How to Grow Purple Basil 'Red Rubin'

Purple Basil 'Red Rubin'

Ocimum basilicum 'Red Rubin'

herb

Red Rubin is a striking ornamental basil variety with deep purple foliage and a robust, peppery flavor profile. Unlike green basil varieties, its dark leaves add visual appeal to gardens and culinary dishes. It grows as a bushy annual that performs well in warm climates and containers.

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily (8+ hours preferred for best color and flavor)

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Water: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply 1-2 times per week, more frequently in hot weather and containers. Reduce watering slightly in fall.

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Spacing: 12 inches

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Days to maturity: 60-75 days from transplant; 70-85 days from seed

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Planting depth: Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep; transplant seedlings with top of root ball level with soil surface

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-7.0

Amendments:

Compost Aged manure Peat moss or coco coir Perlite for container growing

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 3-11 as an annual; perennial in zones 10-11

2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b

Growth Stages

Germination & Seedling

2-3 weeks

Seeds sprout in 5-10 days at 70-75°F. Seedlings develop oval cotyledons, then true leaves with the characteristic purple hue emerge.

Keep soil moist but not soggy. Provide 12-14 hours of bright light daily. Maintain warmth; do not expose to temperatures below 50°F.

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks

Plant develops bushy form with multiple stems and increasingly dark purple leaves. Nodes become more pronounced; growth accelerates.

Pinch off top 1-2 inches when plant reaches 6 inches tall to encourage bushier growth. Continue regular watering. Apply balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks.

Flowering Onset

Begins around week 6-7 after transplant

Purple-pink flower spikes begin forming at stem tips. Lower leaves may yellow slightly as plant energy shifts upward.

Pinch off flower buds to extend leaf harvest and maintain foliage quality. If you allow flowering, remove spent flowers to encourage continued bloom.

Full Flowering & Maturity

4-8 weeks (can be extended by deadheading)

Delicate purple-pink flowers bloom along terminal spikes. Foliage flavor becomes more concentrated and peppery.

Harvest leaves frequently to promote branching and delay senescence. Deadhead spent flowers unless you want seeds. Reduce fertilizer slightly.

Seed Production & Decline

Until frost or end of season

Flowers set seed in small oval capsules. Plant growth slows; leaves may show stress or discoloration in cool fall weather.

Allow some flowers to mature if collecting seed. In cool zones, harvest remaining leaf material before frost. Plant will decline after first freeze.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Tomato Pepper Eggplant Parsley Oregano Thyme Chives Borage Marigold Nasturtium

Avoid planting near:

Rue Sage Fennel Kohlrabi Cabbage family (in large quantities)

Common Pests

Hand-pick early morning or evening. Use row covers on young plants. Apply neem oil or spinosad for heavy infestations.
Increase humidity and mist foliage regularly. Spray with water to dislodge. Use neem oil or miticide if severe.
Use yellow sticky traps. Spray undersides of leaves with insecticidal soap. Remove heavily infested leaves.
Spray with strong water stream. Use insecticidal soap or neem oil. Encourage beneficial predators like ladybugs.
and
Remove by hand at dusk. Create beer traps or copper barriers. Use diatomaceous earth around base.

Uses

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Pesto & pasta sauces

Culinary

Red Rubin's peppery, slightly anise-like flavor works beautifully in pesto, pasta dishes, and cooked sauces. The deep purple color creates visually striking pesto. [source]

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Salads & garnish

Culinary

Fresh leaves add ornamental appeal and complex flavor to green salads, caprese salad, and as an edible garnish for soups and plates. [source]

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Herbal tea & digestive aid

Medicinal

Purple basil leaves can be steeped into tea to support digestion and provide antioxidant benefits. Traditionally used in herbal medicine for inflammation. [source]

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Natural pest deterrent

Household

Basil's aromatic volatile oils repel many garden pests and insects when planted near vegetables. Can be dried and used indoors for fragrance. [source]

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Ornamental container & flower arrangement

Craft

The striking deep purple foliage and delicate flower spikes make Red Rubin an attractive specimen for decorative pots on patios and in floral arrangements. [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 when plant reaches 6-8 inches tall by pinching off top 2-3 inches. Harvest frequently (every 1-2 weeks) to maintain bushiness and prevent flowering. Pinch from the top down, removing leaves just above a leaf node to encourage branching. Morning harvest (after dew dries) yields the strongest flavor. Continue harvesting until frost. For dried basil, harvest entire stems just as flowers begin to open, tie in bundles, and hang dry in a warm, airy location.

Fun Facts

🌱 Red Rubin basil contains higher levels of anthocyanins (purple pigments) than green basil varieties, giving it increased antioxidant properties and a more complex peppery flavor profile.
🌱 In Victorian gardens, purple basil was grown primarily for ornamental purposes, though it has gained culinary popularity in modern cuisine for its striking appearance and bold taste.
🌱 Red Rubin basil was developed in Italy and remains a favorite in Mediterranean cooking, particularly in southern Italian and Sicilian dishes.

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