Prospera Italian Large Leaf

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Prospera Italian Large Leaf to a garden.

Plush, oversized leaves unfurl with a vivid, living green and a deeply aromatic perfume that rises the moment you brush the foliage.

Prospera Italian Large Leaf basil offers a tender, substantial leaf texture—broad enough to feel luxurious in the hand—while staying richly flavorful for classic Italian-style herb use. Grow it for bold fresh garnishing, fragrant pesto, and aromatic sauces where its full-bodied basil character truly shines.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Prospera Italian Large Leaf

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Prospera Italian Large Leaf 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 4th	Jul 20th	Sep 18th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Apr 27th	Jul 13th	Sep 11th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	Jul 3rd	Sep 1st – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	Jul 3rd	Sep 1st – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	Jul 7th	Sep 5th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	Jul 3rd	Sep 1st – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	Jul 1st	Aug 30th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	Jun 26th	Aug 25th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	Jun 22nd	Aug 21st – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	Jun 19th	Aug 18th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Jun 13th	Aug 12th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Jun 8th	Aug 7th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	May 29th	Jul 28th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	May 20th	Jul 19th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	May 11th	Jul 10th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Apr 24th	Jun 23rd – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Mar 30th	May 29th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	60
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
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

Prospera’s oversized leaves give you a pesto with a silken, herb-forward bite—less stringy than smaller basil and better at carrying fragrance. Treat it gently: keep it fresh, avoid prolonged heat, and let the aroma jump when it hits warm food.

Best Uses

pesto where the leaves stay lush and green (blend fresh, don’t overheat)
tear-and-drop fresh garnish for finishing pasta, beans, and grilled bread
aromatic green herb sauces/chimichurri-style emulsions
brushing into olive oil for quick basil-infused drizzles and finishing

Flavor Profile

bold, fragrant clove-anise basil aroma tender but substantial leaf—plush, not wispy sweet-forward basil flavor with a clean, herbal finish

Kitchen Pairings

Parmigiano-Reggiano Pecorino Romano extra-virgin olive oil garlic lemon juice mozzarella

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most likely on Ocimum basilicum (Italian large-leaf basil), and how do I treat it?

Watch for downy mildew, which shows as pale/yellow patches on the top of leaves and a gray-purple fuzzy growth on the undersides—this is common in humid, crowded basil. Remove badly affected leaves, increase airflow by spacing plants and thinning to one strong stem per pot, and water only at the soil line early in the day. If it keeps spreading, use a labeled fungicide appropriate for basil/leafy herbs and follow the label reapplication interval.

How often should I water Ocimum basilicum during its main growing phase?

During active growth (roughly after seedlings establish through harvest), keep the top 1 inch of soil lightly moist but not soggy. In full sun, that typically means watering about 1–2 times per week depending on your soil and pot size; water deeply until excess drains, then let the surface dry slightly before the next watering. Avoid wetting the leaves, because basil foliage that stays damp encourages mildew.

How can I tell when Italian large-leaf basil is ready to harvest?

Harvest when plants reach about 8–12 inches tall and have several sets of mature leaf pairs, typically around 60 days from sowing. Pinch or cut just above a leaf node, taking the top 1/3 to 1/2 of the plant to encourage branching. If leaves are still small and plants are mostly single-stem, wait a bit longer—basil flavor is best before flowering.