Tulsi
Ocimum tenuiflorum · also called Holy basil
Herb
- Light
- Sunny
- Pot size
- Medium pot (about 5 to 15 litres)
- Care level
- Needs regular attention
- Year round or seasonal
- Kept year to year; no cold limit in our source
- Pets
- Pet safety not confirmed
Light and position
Full sun: 6 or more hours of direct sun.
Size and pot
NC State lists about 3 feet; Oregon State suggests 10-inch pots for herbs. Our pot band: medium pot (about 5 to 15 litres).
Watering
Keep the soil moist but never waterlogged; NC State says it does poorly in waterlogged soil.
Potting mix and feeding
Well-drained mix in a pot with a drainage hole.
Growing through the year
An annual or short-lived perennial grown from seed; it readily self-seeds. NC State rates its maintenance as high.
Winter outdoors
Cold limit: not given by our source. NC State gives no hardiness zone or minimum temperature.
| Your coldest winter nights | What to do |
|---|---|
| Coldest nights 15 °C or warmer | Cold limit not given by our source: protect from cold |
| Coldest nights 10 to 15 °C | Cold limit not given by our source: protect from cold |
| Coldest nights 5 to 10 °C | Cold limit not given by our source: protect from cold |
| Coldest nights 0 to 5 °C | Cold limit not given by our source: protect from cold |
| Light frost: nights down to about −5 °C | Cold limit not given by our source: protect from cold |
| Hard frost: nights below −5 °C | Cold limit not given by our source: protect from cold |
A plant can stay out only when its limit is below the coldest night in your band; a limit equal to that night counts as needing shelter. A rare cold snap, wind or a wet pot can still damage plants. We convert °F to °C with NIST’s formula.
Watch for
NC State mentions leaf-eating beetles; soggy soil is the other risk.
Pets and people
ASPCA’s basil entry covers sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) only. We found no entry for holy basil, so its pet safety is not confirmed.
General gardening information, not professional advice. Plant toxicity details are a starting point, not veterinary or medical advice: if a pet or child may have eaten a plant, contact a veterinarian or doctor promptly.
Care level: NC State’s maintenance rating (High). Pot band and summary wording are ours, based on the sources below.