Purple Leaf Basil Varieties

Add some color and flavor to your garden and containers with purple leafed basil varieties.

Dark Opal basil is the 1962 All-America Selections winner that is still popular with gardeners and cooks. The deep purple leaves make a colorful garnish, addition to salads, and herbal vinegars.

Red Rubin has deep reddish-purple leaves and is more disease resistant. You’ll enjoy the spicy flavor and color in vinegars and your favorite recipes.

Grow purple ruffles if you prefer a bit more texture. The frilly purple leaves are fragrant and often sport a bit of green.

Bambino Purple has green leaves with a dark purple overlay. The compact size, smaller leaves, and fragrance add texture and beauty to containers.

The slightly larger Black Patina basil has the traditional Italian basil flavor. The medium sized dark purple leaves have wonderful fragrance.

A bit more information: Purple leaf basils combine nicely with other herbs, flowers and vegetables. Plus, the red leaf, Thai and more exotic types of basil tend to be less susceptible to downy mildew.