How to Grow Cinnamon Basil
Wikimedia Commons
Cinnamon Basil
Ocimum basilicum 'Cinnamon'
herbCinnamon basil is a aromatic culinary herb with distinctive clove and cinnamon-scented leaves that are deep green with purple-tinged stems. It produces delicate purple-pink flowers and grows into a bushy plant reaching 12-18 inches tall. This variety is prized for its unique spice-like fragrance and flavor, setting it apart from common sweet basil.
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Example Cinnamon Basil timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Cinnamon Basil
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Cinnamon Basil
Around Jun 16≈ 60 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Cinnamon Basil dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-11; grown as an annual in cooler zones (2-5), perennial in warmer zones (9-11)
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Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny cotyledons emerge, followed by first true leaves. Plant is very delicate and small.
Keep soil warm (70-75°F) and consistently moist. Provide bright light (grow lights if indoors). Thin seedlings to strongest plant if direct sown.
Vegetative Growth
3-5 weeksPlant develops multiple sets of true leaves and bushy branching structure. Stems are green with purple tinges. No flowers yet.
Pinch off top 1-2 inches regularly to encourage bushier growth. Reduce pinching 3-4 weeks before harvest to allow branching.
Pre-Flowering
2-3 weeksPlant reaches 8-12 inches tall with full canopy. Flower buds begin to form at stem tips.
Continue moderate watering and full sun exposure. Pinching off early flower buds redirects energy to leaf production for longer harvest.
Flowering
4-8 weeks (continuous if deadheaded)Purple-pink flowers bloom in spiky terminal clusters. Plant energy shifts toward seed production. Leaves become smaller and less flavorful.
Deadhead spent flowers to extend vegetative growth and leaf production. If allowing to flower for ornamental purposes, maintain regular watering.
Seed Production & Decline
2-4 weeks (or ongoing in containers indoors)Flowers mature into seed pods. Leaves diminish in quantity and flavor. Plant gradually senesces.
Allow selected flowers to dry on plant if saving seeds. Cut back plant by one-third to encourage new growth, or end season.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick in early morning; use neem oil or insecticidal soap; encourage beneficial insects like parasitic wasps
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Spray with strong water stream; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap; introduce ladybugs or lacewings
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Increase humidity by misting; use neem oil; ensure adequate air circulation
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Use yellow sticky traps; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; introduce parasitic wasps
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and
Remove by hand; use beer traps; apply copper tape barriers; encourage natural predators
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Allow soil to dry slightly between waterings; use sticky traps; improve drainage
Uses
Spiced Cooking & Baking
CulinaryFresh or dried cinnamon basil leaves add warm, cinnamon-clove notes to baked goods, desserts, fruit dishes, beverages, and savory meat marinades. The unique flavor profile complements pumpkin, chocolate, and Mediterranean dishes. [source]
Tea & Infusions
CulinaryFresh or dried leaves steep into a fragrant herbal tea with natural sweetness, pleasant for both hot and iced preparations. Often blended with other herbs for complexity. [source]
Digestive & Antimicrobial Support
MedicinalTraditional use in folk medicine for digestive comfort and its natural antimicrobial properties, similar to other basil varieties. Contains eugenol and cinnamaldehyde, compounds known for anti-inflammatory potential. [source]
Fragrance & Aromatics
HouseholdDried leaves provide natural fragrance for potpourri, sachets, and herbal arrangements. The distinctive cinnamon scent freshens spaces and attracts pollinators when grown as an ornamental. [source]
Ornamental Garnish
CraftBeautiful purple-pink flowers and attractive foliage make cinnamon basil a decorative garden plant and edible garnish for plated dishes and beverage cocktails. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Begin harvesting leaves once plant has 6-8 true leaves, typically 30-40 days after planting. Pinch off top 1-2 inches regularly for continuous harvest. For best flavor, harvest in the morning after dew dries. Remove flower buds to extend leaf production. Harvest entire plant 2-3 weeks before expected frost by cutting back to 1/3 of its height; it will regrow if season permits. Harvest regularly to prevent woodiness.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Cinnamon basil is native to tropical regions and is believed to have originated in Southeast Asia, where it has been used in traditional cuisines for centuries.
- 🌱 The plant's distinctive cinnamon-clove aroma comes from the essential oils cinnamaldehyde and eugenol—the same compounds that give true cinnamon and cloves their characteristic scents.
- 🌱 Cinnamon basil flowers are highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, making it an excellent pollinator plant for gardens while also providing edible flowers for culinary uses.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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