Kapoor Tulsi (Holy Basil)
Ocimum sanctum
Seeds per pack ~70
Germination: 96% Dec 2023 (Packed for 2024)
Tulsi is an aromatic shrub in the basil family Lamiaceae (tribe ocimeae) that is thought to have originated in north central India and now grows native throughout the eastern world tropics. Scientifically known as Ocimum sanctum or Ocimum tenuiflorum, Tulsi is native to the Indian subcontinent and widespread as a cultivated plant throughout the Southeast Asian tropics.
In India, tulsi is an important component of Ayurveda or Ayurvedic traditional medicine medicine. Within Ayurveda, tulsi is known as “The Incomparable One,” “Mother Medicine of Nature” and “The Queen of Herbs,” and is revered as an “elixir of life” that is without equal for both its medicinal and spiritual properties.
In India, tulsi has been adopted into spiritual rituals and lifestyle practices that provide a vast array of health benefits that are just beginning to be confirmed by modern science. This emerging science on tulsi, which reinforces ancient Ayurvedic wisdom, suggests that tulsi is a tonic for the body, mind and spirit that offers solutions to many modern day health problems.
Physical Description:
- Leaves: Tulsi has a bushy growth with aromatic, green or purple leaves, depending on the variety. The leaves are oval-shaped with a slightly sharp tip, and they are often covered with fine hairs.
- Flowers: It blooms with small, fragrant flowers that can range in color from white to lavender, typically arranged in close whorls on elongated racemes.
- Stem: The stems are hairy and can range in color from green to purple, becoming woody as the plant matures.
- Height: The plant can grow from 30 to 60 cm tall, depending on the variety and growing conditions.
Growing Tips:
Tulsi is a hardy plant that thrives in warm, tropical climates but can also be grown in temperate regions during the warmer months. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Regular watering and occasional pruning help the plant to flourish and produce more leaves.
