Basil

Hydroponic & Container Basil Varieties • Comparison Charts

Faster-Growing, Slower-Growing & Specialty Varieties

NOTES

The containers shown in the images below are all 4" pots, except for the Greek variety 'Spicy Bush.'

We additionally offer a full-color, printable PDF version of this chart, which includes a side-by-side visual comparison of most of the varieties, for additional reference to their relative size.

For more information, see our Hydroponic & Container Basil Guide.

Type Variety Description & Recommendation Benefits Disadvantages Common Uses Seed Forms  Offered
FASTER-GROWING VARIETIES
GENOVESE / PESTO Container-grown Aroma 2 Basil Plant
'Aroma 2' 		Popular choice for hydroponic growers because of uniformity and fast growth.
  • Fast growing
  • Uniform growth
  • Classic flavor / aroma profile
  • Fusarium resistant
  • Plants are relatively lanky and sparse, with fewer leaves than more compact types.
  • Leaves are a bit smaller and flatter than standard Genovese.
 Preferred Uses:
  • Live plant in container or with growing medium attached.

Secondary Uses:
  • Individual leaf, tip, and bunch harvest, packaged in clamshells or bags.
Container-grown Dolly Basil Plant
'Dolly' 		Genovese appearance, with Italian Large Leaf-type yields. Performs well in containers. While used successfully by experienced hydroponic growers, not recommended for those new to hydroponic production because of sensitivity to nutrient imbalances.
  • Fast growing
  • Uniform growth
  • High-yielding plants with very large, cupped leaves
  • Classic flavor / aroma profile
  • Sensitive to nutrient imbalances; often will show zoning / discoloration in leaves more than other varieties, both in hydroponic systems and in the field.
 Preferred Uses:
  • Live plant in container or with growing medium attached.
  • Individual leaves, tips, or bunches packaged in clamshells or bags.
Container-grown Genovese Basil Plant
'Genovese' 		Recommended only for harvest of individual leaves, stems, or bunches, due to lack of uniformity in plant height and habit.
  • Fast growing
  • Large, cupped leaves
  • Classic flavor / aroma profile
  • While fuller than 'Aroma 2' and 'Prospera DMR (CG1)', plants are still relatively lanky and sparse, with fewer leaves than more compact varieties.
  • Growth rate and plant habit can be variable, making it a less dependable variety for harvesting uniform live plants.
 Preferred Uses:
  • Individual leaves, stems, or bunches packaged in clamshells or bags.
Prospera DMR (CG1) Basil
'Prospera® DMR (CG1)' 		Use during times of downy mildew pressure. Very similar to 'Aroma 2.' Uniform and fast-growing.
  • Downy mildew resistant
  • Fusarium resistant
  • Fast growing
  • Classic flavor / aroma profile
  • Uniform growth
  • Plants are relatively lanky and sparse, with fewer leaves than more compact types.
  • Leaves are a bit smaller and flatter than standard Genovese.
 Preferred Uses:
  • Live plant in container or with growing medium attached.

Secondary Uses:
  • Individual leaf, tip, and bunch harvest, packaged in clamshells or bags.
Prospera DMR (PS5)
'Prospera® DMR (PS5)' 		Use during times of downy mildew pressure. Semi-compact variety for tip harvest, bunching, or live plant production. Uniform and moderately fast growing.
  • Downy mildew-resistant
  • Fusarium resistant
  • Classic flavor / aroma profile
  • Uniform growth
  • Deep-green, glossy, cupped leaves
  • Slightly smaller and less-cupped leaves than 'Prospera Compact (PL4)', but faster growing.
  • Somewhat slower growing than 'Prospera (CG1)', but more compact internodes.
 Preferred Uses:
  • Live plant in container or with growing medium attached.
  • Individual leaves, tips, or bunches packaged in clamshells or bags.
ITALIAN LARGE LEAF Newton Basil
'Newton'		 Uniform and fast growing. Very similar to 'Nufar,' but with a preferable traditional Italian flavor / aroma.
  • Fusarium resistant
  • Fast growing
  • Uniform growth
  • Large leaves on productive plants
  • Plant type and flattened, serrated, rugose leaves are also not as popular as the Genovese type.
 Preferred Uses:
  • Live plant in container or with growing medium attached.
  • Individual leaves, tips, or bunches packaged in clamshells or bags.
  • Good for mechanical harvest.
Container-grown Nufar Basil Plant
'Nufar'		 Popular choice for hydroponic growers because of its uniformity and fast growth.
  • Fast growing
  • Uniform growth
  • Large leaves on productive plants
  • Fusarium resistant
  • Italian Large Leaf type has a sweeter and spicier flavor / aroma profile that is not suitable for markets demanding a Genovese flavor / aroma profile.
  • Plant type and flattened, serrated, and rugose leaves are also not as popular as the Genovese type.
 Preferred Uses:
  • Live plant in container or with growing medium attached.
  • Individual leaves, tips, or bunches packaged in clamshells or bags.
  • Good for mechanical harvest.
Prospera Italian Large Leaf DMR (ILL2) Basil Plant
'Prospera® Italian Large Leaf DMR (ILL2)' 		Use during times of downy mildew pressure. Very similar to 'Nufar.' Uniform and fast growing.
  • Downy mildew resistant
  • Fusarium resistant
  • Fast growing
  • Uniform growth
  • Large leaves on productive plants
  • Italian Large Leaf type has a sweeter and spicier flavor / aroma profile that is not suitable for markets demanding a Genovese flavor / aroma profile.
  • Plant type and flattened, serrated, and rugose leaves are also not as popular as the Genovese type.
 Preferred Uses:
  • Live plant in container or with growing medium attached.
  • Individual leaves, tips, or bunches packed in clamshells or bags.
  • Good for mechanical harvest.
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Type Variety Description & Recommendation Benefits Disadvantages Common Uses Seed Forms  Offered
SLOWER-GROWING VARIETIES
COMPACT GENOVESE / PESTO
Container-grown Everleaf Basil Plant
'Everleaf'		 Compact variety that is ideal when attractive, full, uniform live plants are desired.

NOTE: Because the plant architecture is so dense, a seeding rate of 2–5 seeds per 4" pot is recommended.
  • Fusarium resistant
  • Very full, compact plants have short internodes
  • Medium-large, cupped leaves
  • Classic flavor / aroma profile
  • Uniform growth
  • Extremely slow to bolt
  • If spray treatment is required, it can be difficult to get good coverage on extremely dense, compact plants.
  • Dense plants are not ideal for bunch harvest.
  • Slower growth rate than fast-growing varieties noted above.
 Preferred Uses:
  • Live plant in container or with growing medium attached.
  • Individual leaves or tips packaged in clamshells or bags.
Container-grown Genovese Compact Improved Basil Plant
'Genovese Compact Improved' 		Uniform, compact plants with large leaves are lush and attractive for live-plant sales.
  • Uniform growth
  • Full, compact plants have short internodes
  • Large, cupped leaves
  • Classic flavor / aroma profile
  • Slow to bolt
  • Slower growth rate than fast-growing varieties noted above.
 Preferred Uses:
  • Live plant in container or with growing medium attached.

Secondary Uses:
  • Individual leaves packaged in clamshells or bags (a faster-growing standard Genovese is preferable if leaf harvest is primary purpose).
Prospera Compact DMR (PL4)
'Prospera® Compact DMR (PL4)' 		Use during times of downy mildew pressure. Compact plants with attractive, cupped leaves are ideal for full, uniform live plants.
  • Downy mildew-resistant
  • Fusarium resistant
  • Classic flavor / aroma profile
  • Uniform growth
  • Large, dark-green, glossy, cupped leaves
  • Slow to bolt
  • Slower growth rate than fast-growing varieties noted above.
 Preferred Uses:
Live plant in container or with growing medium attached.

Secondary Uses:
Individual leaves packaged in clamshells or bags (a faster-growing standard Genovese is preferable if leaf harvest is primary purpose).
Winner Basil
'Winner' 		Semi-compact plants with very large leaves. Performs very well in containers. Ideal for full, uniform live plants.
  • Uniform growth
  • Full, semi-compact plants
  • Very large, cupped leaves
  • Classic flavor / aroma profile
  • Slow to bolt
  • Slower growth rate than fast-growing varieties noted above.
 Preferred Uses:
Live plant in container or with growing medium attached.

Secondary Uses:
Individual leaves packaged in clamshells or bags (a faster-growing standard Genovese is preferable if leaf harvest is primary purpose).
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Type Variety Description Seed Forms Offered
SPECIALTY VARIETIES
RED / PURPLE Container-grown Amethyst Improved Basil Plant
'Amethyst Improved' 		Purple basil most like Genovese, with shiny cupped leaves.
Container-grown Red Rubin Basil Plant
'Red Rubin' 		Uniform red basil with sturdy, productive plant habit.
Container-grown Dark Opal Basil Plant
'Dark Opal' 		Fast-growing red basil with slightly ruffled leaves and a sweeter aroma.
Prospera Red DMR Basil
'Prospera Red DMR' 		Downy mildew and Fusarium-resistant red basil, with Genovese-like flavor and leaf shape.
ASIAN / THAI Container-grown Sweet Thai Basil Plant
'Sweet Thai' 		Popular Thai variety with spicy leaves that are smaller than those of traditional basil types, on compact plant.
Container-grown Cardinal Basil Plant
'Cardinal' 		Large leaves; compact plant.
Container-grown Cinnamon Basil Plant
'Cinnamon' 		Large leaves; fast-growing, tall plant.
Container-grown Aromatto Basil Plant
'Aromatto' 		Large leaves; fast-growing, tall plant.
Everleaf Thai Towers Basil Plants
'Everleaf Thai Towers'		 Vigorous plant with small spaces between internodes, making for very full-looking plants. Medium-sized, heart-shaped, glossy green leaves with a purple blush and stems. Deep, Thai / anise aroma. Very slow bolting.
CITRUS Container-grown Mrs. Burns's Lemon Basil Plant
'Mrs. Burns' Lemon' 		Vigorous, fast growing; medium-sized leaves with intense, lemony aroma / flavor profile.
Container-grown Lime Basil Plant
'Lime' 		Leaves smaller than those of traditional basil types, with characteristically zesty aroma / flavor profile.
GREEK Container-grown Spicy Bush Basil Plant
'Spicy Bush'		 Largest of the Greek basils but still compact; spicy flavor.
LETTUCE LEAF Container-grown Tuscany Basil Plant
'Tuscany'		 Very large leaves; compact plant.
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