The Best Pollinator Plant: African Blue Basil
Updated: Dec 27, 2023
After trying dozens of different flowers around the border of my raised vegetable bed, I finally found the perfect plant to attract pollinators: African Blue Basil.
It looks great, with its vibrant purple flowers and dark green leaves, and it is amazingly fragrant, too. But beyond this, it has tons of other benefits that make it the best pollinator plant to attract lots & lots of friendly bees!
It's a Perennial.
In frost-free areas, African Blue Basil is a perennial. This means you plant it once, and it continues to come back year after year! This is a major perk when considering cost, as you don't need to continue replacing your pollinator plants annually or with the change of seasons, and it saves you time in replanting, too.
It's Sterile.
African Blue Basil is a sterile plant, meaning it can't reproduce through seeds. This is great for gardeners because you don't need to worry about pruning the flowers since they'll never go to seed. This is another time saver, and you get to enjoy dozens of blooms all year long!
It's Easy to Propagate.
Wondering how this plant reproduces if it doesn't go to seed? Propagation! It's easy. Simply take ~4" cuttings from your African Blue Basil plant, remove the lower leaves, and place them in clean water for ~2 weeks. Once healthy root systems have formed on your cuttings, plant them in soil. Read about the complete process here - quick and simple!
It's Great to Season Dishes.
Looking for another reason this plant is the best? It's excellent to season your dishes with! This basil has a bold, herbaceous, earthy flavor. Delicious to season just about anything and makes a great pesto!
It Has Lots of Medicinal Properties.
The leaves of African Blue Basil are rich in vitamins and nutrients: vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, and antioxidants. In its origin in Africa, the oils from the leaves are extracted for use as an insect repellent and for their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Try making tea with the rich, flavorful leaves!
The Bees Love It!
My African Blue Basil plants are always covered in happy little bees. I placed them around my vegetable garden to attract lots of beneficial pollinators, and I'm so happy with the results. Happy bees for a happy garden!
Learn more about planting African Blue Basil in your own garden with my latest video, and share your experience with this lovely plant in the comments below!
Cheers to learning together, and happy gardening!
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