Variety field guide
What to expect from Corsican Basil
Corsican is an annual basil selection grown for fresh leaves, tea or culinary use, pollinator flowers, containers, and seed saving.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
A Mediterranean treasure hailing from the island of Corsica, Ocimum basilicum ‘Corsican’ is a robust and aromatic basil known for its rich, spicy-sweet flavor with subtle undertones of anise and clove. The medium-sized, slightly crinkled leaves possess a deep green hue and glossy sheen, embodying the sun-drenched warmth of its coastal homeland. Corsican basil holds its flavor beautifully in heat, making it an exceptional choice for fresh use or for long-simmered sauces and pestos.
About Corsican
Corsican is an annual selection of basil, with an upright/erect habit and an expected height or spread of 19–24 in. It is best suited to fresh leaves, tea or culinary use, pollinator flowers, containers, and seed saving. Notable traits include harvest leafy tips before heavy flowering; allow selected plants to flower fully for seed; aromatic leaves shaped by the named basil type.
The value of Corsican is in the combination of its named traits, upright/erect growth, and fit for fresh leaves, tea or culinary use, pollinator flowers, containers, and seed saving.
History and provenance
Cultivated basils include multiple Ocimum species and hybrids selected across Africa and Asia for fragrance, culinary use, devotional practice, leaf form, and ornamental color. Sweet basil, holy basil, clove basil, and lemon basil are not automatically interchangeable, even when all are sold under the common word basil. Corsican Basil Corsican Basil hails from the rugged, sun-soaked island of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea, a land known for its aromatic herbs and culinary intensity. Generations of island gardeners cultivated this variety for its robust, spicy-sweet aroma and its resilience under heat and wind. The basil grew in terraced plots and stone-walled gardens overlooking the sea, thriving in the mineral-rich soils that shaped the distinct flavor of Corsican cuisine. In traditional cooking, Corsican Basil was used to season fish stews, vegetable dishes, and sauces that mirrored the island’s blend of French and Italian influences. Its strong aroma paired naturally with garlic, olive oil, and tomatoes-the foundations of Mediterranean flavor. Over time, it became a symbol of the island’s self-sufficiency and culinary pride, reflecting how isolation and tradition can refine a plant into something uniquely regional. Its aroma is bold yet refined, enhancing Mediterranean dishes, vinegars, and infused oils with an authentic island character. Long cultivated along the rocky hillsides and terraced gardens of Corsica, this variety carries the essence of the sea breeze and sun-the flavor of a Mediterranean summer distilled into every leaf.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Ocimum basilicum L. |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Annual |
| Maturity | 50-59 Days |
| Germination | 5-10 Days at 70–85 °F |
| Seed depth | 1/8 in |
| Plant height / spread | 19–24 in |
| Growth habit | Upright/Erect |
| Spacing | 10 in between plants; 18 in between rows |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Soil | Loamy; pH 6.0–6.5 |
| Water | Moderate |
| Support | No-Support |
Starting Corsican from seed
Sow 1/8 in deep and keep the seed zone evenly moist. Expect emergence in 5-10 Days when the seed-zone temperature is near 70–85 °F. Germination preparation: Use a fine, evenly moist seed-starting mix or prepared seedbed. Light requirement: Light aids germination; barely cover. Soaking: None required. Stratification: None required. Scarification: None required.
Planting and care
Plant during late Spring and provide full sun. Space plants 10 in apart with 18 in between rows. Use loamy with a pH near 6.0–6.5, and follow a moderate watering plan. Support requirement: No-Support. Frost response: Tender. Medium to large container or in-ground bed; avoid crowding
Harvest and use
Approximately 50-59 Days, from transplanting to the first substantial leaf harvest. Weather, soil temperature, and planting method can shift the actual harvest date. Harvest: Harvest leafy tips before heavy flowering; allow selected plants to flower fully for seed. Uses: Fresh leaves, tea or culinary use, pollinator flowers, containers, and seed saving. Flavor: aromatic leaves shaped by the named basil type. Seed saving: Open-pollinated herb or leafy crop. Best uses include fresh leaves, tea or culinary use, pollinator flowers, containers, and seed saving. Flavor and eating quality: aromatic leaves shaped by the named basil type.
Saving seed
Select several healthy, true-to-type Corsican plants that match the expected upright/erect habit and overall plant form. Avoid saving seed only from the earliest or largest individual unless that is your deliberate selection goal. Pollination system: Open-pollinated herb or leafy crop. Compatible plants of the same species may cross to varying degrees through insects or wind. Separate compatible varieties that may flower together, or use cages, barriers, hand pollination, or another documented control appropriate to the crop. Allow selected plants to pass the eating stage and reach full botanical seed maturity. Harvest only when seed heads, pods, or fruits have matured enough for sound seed development. Clean the seed carefully, dry it thoroughly away from direct heat, label the lot with variety and year, and store it cool, dark, and dry. Test germination before an important planting or distribution season.
Common problems
Common concerns: Aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, slugs, damping-off, root rot, and leaf diseases under humid crowded conditions. Management: Provide airflow, drainage, moderate fertility, careful watering, and clean harvest practices. Contain spreading mints where needed. Diagnosis note: Similar symptoms can have different causes. Compare plants of the same age, record weather and irrigation, and use local Extension or diagnostic support before applying a control.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions - Corsican
When is Corsican ready? Use 50-59 Days. Approximately 50-59 Days, from transplanting to the first substantial leaf harvest. Weather, soil temperature, and planting method can shift the actual harvest date.
How long does germination take? Expect 5-10 Days at about 70–85 °F. Cooler, hotter, crusted, saturated, or dry seedbeds can slow emergence.
How large does it grow? Expect about 19–24 in with an upright/erect habit. Space plants 10 in apart and rows 18 in apart. Support: No-Support.
Can it grow in a container? Medium to large container or in-ground bed; avoid crowding Use a container with drainage and enough volume to maintain the listed spacing and steady moisture.
Can I save seed? Open-pollinated herb or leafy crop. Keep compatible varieties isolated and allow selected plants to reach full seed maturity.
