Sweet Basil 'Aristotle'

A revolutionary basil for the UK grower, 'Aristotle' has been bred for its unique, compact, and naturally spherical growth habit. It forms a neat, dense globe of tiny, highly aromatic green leaves without the need for constant pinching out. While basil is usually a challenge in the UK outdoors, this cultivar's sturdy habit makes it slightly more resilient for patio pots or sheltered window boxes during the peak of summer. The flavor is a classic, pungent sweet basil, ideal for pesto or salads. It is essentially a tender annual (H1c), requiring temperatures to be consistently above 10°C to thrive. It should be grown in a very sunny, sheltered spot and watered from the base to avoid leaf rot. If the UK summer turns particularly wet and cold, it is best kept in a greenhouse or on a sunny kitchen windowsill. It is as ornamental as it is delicious.

Sun: Full sun.

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil.

Hardiness: H1c — down to 5°C.

Flowering: Jul, Aug.