• Best basil for pesto
• Large green leaves
• Leaves are flavorful and sweet
• Many culinary uses
• Repels pests

• Category: Herbs, Edibles
• Hardiness Zone: 8-10
• Height: 24-30 in
• Spread: 10-12 in
• Bloom Color: Green Shades

Sweet Italian Large Leaf Basil is considered the best basil for true Neapolitan recipes, especially pesto. Its large green leaves are flavorful and sweet and mix well with other herbs to create a flavor fest in salads or more traditional Italian staples like pesto or spaghetti sauce.  You’ll find that 'Sweet Italian' also spices up veal, lamb, fish and poultry nicely, as well as adding zest to rice, cheese and most vegetables. Try mixing a few leaves with fresh from the garden tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and a drizzle of olive oil - Delish! Not only is this sweet basil tasty it can also repel garden pests such as aphids, mites and the tomato hornworm, so interplant with other garden vegetables to help keep your garden chemical free!  It's easy to pick throughout the growing season just by  pinching off young leaves on a regular basis. This plant does not need pampering, in fact, dry, infertile soil will produce the most flavorful leaves!