Queen Of Sheba Basil

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Fragrant as warm sun on green velvet, Queen Of Sheba Basil unfurls with an intense, sweet-anise aroma and a clean, bright flavor that lingers on the palate.

Its leaves are tender and richly textured—medium-sized, softly cupped, and beautifully uniform—ideal for fresh use where its fragrance can shine. Grow it for Italian-style pesto, flavorful finishing, and aromatic sauces, or simply let the leaves perfume your garden with every harvest.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 50 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Queen Of Sheba Basil

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 14th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Jun 6th
Harvest Begins	Jul 26th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	50
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

Queen Of Sheba Basil leans into that sweet-anise perfume, so it shines most when you keep heat and time short—think pesto you eat right away or oil that’s infused, not cooked to death. The tender, gently cupped leaves cloak dairy and olive oil beautifully, giving you a fragrant green finish instead of a harsh, bitter one.

Best Uses

Italian-style pesto where the fragrance stays loud—blend gently and serve soon
fresh-leaf finishing on hot pasta or beans to avoid dulling the top notes
aromatic pan-sauces and oil infusions for quick, fragrant dressings
tear-and-fold salads or burrata for a sweet, licorice-leaning basil lift

Flavor Profile

sweet-anise basil aroma bright, clean herbal flavor tender leaves with a plush, slightly creamy mouthfeel

Kitchen Pairings

Parmigiano-Reggiano pecorino romano extra-virgin olive oil garlic lemon mozzarella

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Ocimum basilicum (Queen of Sheba basil), and how can I stop it?

Basil is commonly hit by downy mildew (often yellow patches on top with gray/purple growth underneath leaves), especially in cool, humid conditions. Remove and discard affected leaves immediately, improve airflow by spacing plants, and water at the soil line (not over the foliage). If it keeps spreading, use a labeled fungicide for basil/downy mildew and avoid saving seed from infected plants.

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

During active growth (roughly weeks 2–6), keep the soil consistently evenly moist but not soggy—aim for top 1 inch of soil to dry slightly before watering again. In hot weather, this often means watering every 2–3 days, while cooler periods may require less frequent watering. Make sure containers drain well; basil in waterlogged soil develops root stress and becomes more disease-prone.

How do I know when Queen of Sheba basil is ready to harvest?

Harvest when plants are well-established and reach about 8–12 inches tall, typically around 50 days from sowing, and before flowering starts for the best leaf flavor. Take pinch/harvest by removing the top growing tips plus the top pair of leaves, which encourages branching. If you see flower buds forming, harvest sooner and more frequently to delay flowering.