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How to Grow Midnight Wine

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Midnight Wine

Ocimum basilicum 'Midnight Wine'

herb

Midnight Wine is a striking ornamental basil variety featuring deep purple-black foliage with burgundy flowers, making it as visually appealing as it is culinarily useful. This compact cultivar reaches about 12-18 inches tall and offers a slightly spicy, clove-like flavor with subtle anise notes. It thrives in warm conditions and produces leaves continuously throughout the growing season.

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Example Midnight Wine timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Midnight Wine

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. Harvest Midnight Wine

    Around Jun 6

    ≈ 50 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Midnight Wine dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily; tolerates light afternoon shade in hot climates
💧
Water: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water when top inch of soil is dry. Reduce watering in fall as growth slows. Avoid overhead watering to prevent fungal issues.
📏
Spacing: 12 inches
📅
Days to maturity: 50-70 days from transplant to first harvest
🌱
Planting depth: ¼ inch for seeds; transplants at same depth as pot

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil with organic matter
pH: 6.0-7.0
Amendments:
Compost Aged manure Perlite for drainage Peat moss

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Best grown in zones 5-10; can be grown as an annual in cooler zones

3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a

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Growth Stages

1

Seedling

10-14 days

Tiny seedlings emerge with two oval cotyledons and develop their first true leaves with the characteristic purple coloration appearing within 1-2 weeks.

Keep soil warm (70-75°F) and moist. Provide bright light 12-14 hours daily. Thin seedlings to prevent crowding. Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost.

2

Vegetative

2-3 weeks

Plant develops multiple stems and increasingly dark purple foliage. Leaves are fully formed and actively growing. Plant reaches 4-6 inches in height.

Pinch off growing tips to encourage bushier growth. Maintain warm temperatures and consistent moisture. Apply balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Begin hardening off seedlings before transplanting.

3

Establishment

3-4 weeks

Transplanted plants establish strong root systems and begin vigorous growth in garden or container. Foliage becomes increasingly deep purple-black. Plant reaches 8-12 inches.

Water regularly but allow soil to dry slightly between waterings. Begin light harvesting once plant has 6-8 leaves per stem. Remove any flower buds to encourage leaf production. Fertilize every 2-3 weeks.

4

Flowering

4-8 weeks (ongoing if buds not removed)

Distinctive burgundy-purple flower spikes appear at stem terminals. Foliage remains dark purple-black. Plant may reach 18 inches if allowed to flower.

Pinch off flower buds to extend the vegetative growth phase and leaf production. If flowers are desired for ornamental or culinary use, allow some spikes to develop. Maintain consistent watering and fertilizing.

5

Harvest/Maturity

6-12 weeks depending on climate

Plant is at peak productivity with abundant dark purple foliage ready for continuous harvesting. Flowers may be present if intentionally left to develop.

Harvest leaves regularly from top to base to encourage branching and prevent flowering. Remove up to one-third of plant at a time. Continue fertilizing every 2-3 weeks. Monitor for pests and diseases. As temperatures drop in fall, growth will slow and plant may decline.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Tomato Pepper Eggplant Garlic Marigold Nasturtium Parsley Oregano Thyme

Avoid planting near:

Rue Sage Fennel Kohlrabi

Common Pests

  • Hand-pick beetles in early morning; use neem oil or insecticidal soap; plant repellent companion plants like garlic and marigolds

  • Increase humidity by misting; spray with water to dislodge; use neem oil or miticide if severe; ensure good air circulation

  • Use yellow sticky traps; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; remove heavily infested leaves; maintain plant vigor

  • Ensure well-draining soil; avoid overhead watering; remove infected plants; sterilize tools; rotate planting locations

  • Improve air circulation; water at soil level only; remove affected leaves; apply sulfur dust; reduce humidity

  • and

    Hand-pick in early morning or evening; use beer traps; apply copper barriers; maintain dry mulch around plants

Uses

🍳

Pesto & Infused Oils

Culinary

Midnight Wine basil creates a striking deep purple pesto with complex clove and anise notes. The dramatic color makes it visually stunning in oils, vinegars, and sauces for gourmet presentation. [source]

🍳

Fresh Cooking & Teas

Culinary

Use fresh leaves in salads, pasta dishes, curries, and Thai cuisine. Steep leaves in hot water for a fragrant herbal tea with warming spice notes. [source]

💊

Antimicrobial & Anti-inflammatory Properties

Medicinal

Basil contains eugenol and other compounds with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, traditionally used to support digestive health and reduce inflammation. [source]

🎨

Ornamental & Floral Arrangements

Craft

The striking deep purple foliage and burgundy flowers make Midnight Wine an excellent choice for ornamental herb gardens, cut flower arrangements, and decorative edging. [source]

🏠

Aromatherapy & Fresh Fragrance

Household

The leaves and flowers release a distinctive warm, spicy aroma that can be dried for potpourri or used fresh to naturally fragrance kitchens and dining spaces. [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 light harvesting when plant has at least 6-8 true leaves. Pinch off the top ¼ inch of stem to encourage branching. For larger harvests, remove leaves from the upper 4-6 inches of each stem. Harvest in morning after dew dries for best flavor and aroma. Continue harvesting regularly to prevent flowering and promote bushier growth. The more you harvest, the more the plant produces. Remove flower buds to extend the vegetative season and leaf production.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Midnight Wine basil's deep purple color comes from anthocyanin pigments, the same compounds that make blueberries blue—these pigments also have antioxidant properties.
  • 🌱 Basil is native to tropical regions of south-central Africa and Southeast Asia and has been cultivated for over 5,000 years, considered sacred in some Hindu traditions.
  • 🌱 The ornamental burgundy flowers of Midnight Wine are edible and add a peppery, slightly bitter note to salads and cocktails, making it a fully edible garnish.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Cultivar Full Sun Hardening Off pH Transplant True Leaves
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