Description

A striking ornamental and culinary heirloom, Ocimum basilicum ‘Purple Ruffles’ turns every garden bed and kitchen creation into a visual masterpiece. Its deeply fringed, ruffled leaves shimmer in deep burgundy and violet hues, releasing a rich, sweet-spicy aroma with notes of clove, anise, and cinnamon. Beyond beauty, the flavor is full-bodied and aromatic, lending dramatic color and taste to salads, vinegars, and garnishes.

Plants grow 18–24 inches tall, forming lush, bushy mounds that contrast beautifully against green herbs and vegetables. The magenta flower spikes rise elegantly above the foliage, attracting bees and butterflies while ensuring the gardener a show all season long.

Introduced in the 1980s as an ornamental twist on the Genovese lineage, Purple Ruffles quickly gained acclaim for combining bold aesthetics with genuine flavor depth. A winner of the All-America Selections award, it remains an essential basil for those who want both culinary excellence and a living work of art.