Basils (Ocimum)

Basils (Ocimum) are native to **tropical Asia and Africa**.

While there are many different varieties of basil, the genus *Ocimum* as a whole originated in these regions. Different species may have more specific areas of origin within these continents. For example, sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) is thought to originate from Southeast Asia, while African blue basil (Ocimum kilimandscharicum x Ocimum basilicum ‘Dark Opal’) comes from Africa.