Cardinal

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

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

Aromatic as fresh basil oil—Cardinal Italian Basil fills the air with a vivid, sweet-herbal fragrance and a bright, peppery lift.

Leaves are lush and tender, forming an abundant, upright mound with deep green, velvety foliage that’s prized for its bold flavor and smooth texture. Grow Cardinal for standout pesto, classic tomato-and-basil pairings, and fragrant finishing sprigs that shine in sauces and quick pick-me-ups.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 45 DaysHabit: Upright

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Cardinal 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	May 11th	Jul 20th	Sep 3rd – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	May 4th	Jul 13th	Aug 27th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 24th	Jul 3rd	Aug 17th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 24th	Jul 3rd	Aug 17th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 28th	Jul 7th	Aug 21st – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 24th	Jul 3rd	Aug 17th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 22nd	Jul 1st	Aug 15th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 17th	Jun 26th	Aug 10th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 13th	Jun 22nd	Aug 6th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 10th	Jun 19th	Aug 3rd – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Apr 4th	Jun 13th	Jul 28th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 30th	Jun 8th	Jul 23rd – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 20th	May 29th	Jul 13th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 11th	May 20th	Jul 4th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Mar 2nd	May 11th	Jun 25th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 13th	Apr 24th	Jun 8th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 19th	Mar 30th	May 14th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	45
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Cardinal Italian basil gives you that sweet-herbal perfume first, then a clean peppery snap that reads even through emulsions. It’s tender enough to disappear into pesto, but it still holds flavor when you add it off-heat—no dull, cooked-basil bitterness.

Best Uses

blitzed pesto that stays green and fragrant
tomato-and-basil finishing (fold in at the last minute to keep the peppery edge)
quick herb oil for dressing grilled bread and warm vegetables
copping a spoon of shredded basil into soups/stews off-heat so it tastes fresh, not cooked

Flavor Profile

sweet, vivid basil aroma bright peppery lift at the finish tender, velvety leaves that bruise into fragrant oil

Kitchen Pairings

garlic olive oil Parmesan lemon mozzarella balsamic vinegar

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Ocimum basilicum (basil), and how can I manage it?

A frequent issue is downy mildew (often seen as yellow patches on the upper leaves with gray-purple growth on the underside), especially in cool, humid conditions. Improve airflow by spacing plants and watering at soil level (not over the leaves), then remove badly infected leaves early to slow spread. If problems persist, use a labeled fungicide for basil downy mildew and avoid harvesting during/soon after treatment so you can follow the label instructions safely.

How often should I water Ocimum basilicum during peak growth, and what soil moisture level is best?

During the main growing phase, keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—aim for the top 1 inch to dry slightly between waterings. In full sun, this is often about every 2–3 days, but adjust based on your container/bed drainage and heat. Water deeply at the base so roots grow downward, since consistently wet foliage and heavy soggy soil increase mildew risk.

How do I tell when cardinal basil (Ocimum basilicum) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when plants are about 40–50 days from sowing and have formed several true leaf sets, typically once stems are leafy and vigorous. Pick by snipping the top 1/3 of growth just above a pair of leaves to encourage branching, and avoid stripping more than about one-third of the plant at a time. For best flavor, harvest in the morning before the leaves heat up, and continue light harvesting regularly to keep plants producing.