African Blue

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add African Blue to a garden.

Experience the aromatic embrace of African Blue Basil, a stunning herb that captivates with its vibrant purple-tinged leaves and a robust, sweet flavor profile.

Perfect for fresh salads or as a fragrant garnish, this variety also boasts a unique floral aroma that enhances any dish. Its lush foliage adds not only culinary delight but also ornamental beauty to your garden.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Upright

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African Blue Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Apr 13th	Jul 20th	Sep 28th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 3rd	Jul 10th	Sep 18th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 3rd	Jul 10th	Sep 18th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 7th	Jul 14th	Sep 22nd – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 3rd	Jul 10th	Sep 18th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 1st	Jul 8th	Sep 16th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 27th	Jul 3rd	Sep 11th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 23rd	Jun 29th	Sep 7th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 20th	Jun 26th	Sep 4th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 14th	Jun 20th	Aug 29th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 9th	Jun 15th	Aug 24th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 27th	Jun 5th	Aug 14th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 18th	May 27th	Aug 5th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 9th	May 18th	Jul 27th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 23rd	May 1st	Jul 10th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 29th	Apr 6th	Jun 15th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 10th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	Upright
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

African Blue brings an extra sweet-floral basil note that reads almost perfumed when the leaves are torn, not chopped to death. It’s built for finishing—hit it at the last second with acid and oil so the aroma stays bright and the leaves stay tender.

Best Uses

tear-and-toss salads where the leaves keep their shape under light dressing
quick chiffonade garnish for warm plates—add at the end so it doesn’t turn dull
blend into a deep-green purple-streak pesto or pistou for a fragrant, sweet-herb sauce
bruise lightly for infused oil or vinegar for a floral, herb-forward drizzle

Flavor Profile

sweet, aromatic basil perfume with a slightly floral top note purple-tinged leaves with a tender, juicy chew gentle herbal bitterness on the finish

Kitchen Pairings

garlic lemon olive oil parmesan mozzarella chicken

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I manage powdery mildew on African Blue plants?

Powdery mildew often shows as a white, dusty coating on African Blue leaves, especially when nights are cool and humidity stays high. Improve airflow by spacing plants as labeled and watering the soil (not the leaves); remove the most heavily affected leaves early. If it’s spreading, spray a labeled sulfur or potassium bicarbonate product, repeating as directed until the coating stops spreading (avoid sulfur on very hot days).

How often should I water African Blue during active growth (around weeks 3–8)?

During the main growth period, keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy—aim for the top 1 inch to dry slightly between waterings. In warm weather this usually means watering about 1–2 times per week, but increase frequency if the top inch dries in a day. Use deep watering so moisture reaches the root zone; African Blue in constantly wet soil is much more prone to stem and root problems.

When is African Blue ready to harvest?

Harvest at about 70 days from sowing when the pods/fruit reach their expected full size and color, and the surface feels firm rather than soft or underdeveloped. If you’re growing it for edible shoots/leafy parts, harvest once plants are producing plenty of leaves and continue picking early in the day for best texture. For quality, do a test harvest and check whether the pieces taste tender and are not woody—then harvest the remaining crop on the same readiness window.