Ocimum basilicum or Common Gasil is a fresh looking annual herb with light green and fragrant oval leaves and whorls of white flowers at the end of its stems.
It grows from a single stalk yet has many branches.
It is an important culinary herb providing a warm and spicy flavour to salads or in pesto.
It is particularly good with sliced tomatoes and is a great accompaniment to garlic.
This is a very easy herb to grow and is particularly good as a companion plant in that it tends to keep insect pests away due to its powerful fragrance.