Salad leaf basil is a tender, flavorful variety of Ocimum basilicum with broad, crinkled leaves suited to fresh eating. This exclusive strain, often called “lettuce leaf basil,” produces large, 4-inch leaves with a mild, buttery flavor and sweet fragrance—suited to culinary uses where a softer basil note is desired. The lush, textured leaves are especially well-suited for raw preparations. Use them as a flavorful salad green, in place of lettuce on sandwiches, or as edible wraps for fresh appetizers. Variety Details Botanical name: Ocimum basilicum Plant type: Tender Annual Growth habit: Herbaceous Crop category: Herb Kitchen profile: Salad leaf basil is a tender, flavorful variety of Ocimum basilicum with broad, crinkled leaves suited to fresh eating. Recorded feature: Container Compatible Product format: Seed packet Sowing & Growing Height at Maturity: 12"–18" Sun/Shade: Full Sun Light: Full Sun Planting season: Spring or Summer Starting location: Direct Sow or Start Indoors & Transplant Match ‘Heirloom Salad Leaf Basil’ Kitchen Herb to the light, soil, and temperature information recorded for the species. Some herbs are direct sown, while others benefit from a protected start or species-specific pretreatment, so retain the packet for reference. Keep seed media from drying during establishment without leaving it saturated. Once plants are growing, harvest modestly so foliage remains for continued development. Assign perennial herbs a long-term location, and consider containers for species with a spreading habit. Before sowing ‘Heirloom Salad Leaf Basil’ Kitchen Herb, review the packet alongside the current product details and note any range in temperature, germination, or maturity. Ranges reflect biological and seasonal variation rather than a fixed promise. Label each planting with its date and location, then compare emergence, growth, and harvest with local weather. This record is useful for succession plantings and for deciding whether the crop fits better into an earlier or later seasonal window. Explore related options in our Seed Packs and Bulk Seeds Collection.
