The most popular another name for sweet basil is common basil. You'll also see it sold as Genovese basil at nurseries and garden stores. In the science world, it goes by Ocimum basilicum. All of these labels point to the exact same plant that you find in your grocery store's produce section.
The list of common basil names in English alone might surprise you with how long it gets. You might see it tagged as sweet basil, common basil, Genovese basil, or garden basil at different shops near you. When I first walked into a nursery looking for sweet basil, I found three pots with different names on the tag. They were all the same plant inside the pot. The person at the counter told me they get that question every single week from shoppers like you and me. Seed companies just pick whatever name they think sells best in your area.
If you want to cut through all the confusion, look for the name Ocimum basilicum on the label. That's the official name in the plant world and it settles any debate about what you're buying. The word basil comes from the Greek word basilikon, which means royal or kingly. Ancient Greeks loved this herb so much they treated it with special care. Historians say Alexander the Great brought it to Greece between 356 and 323 BCE during his trips through Asia. The plant has been a kitchen favorite in your part of the world ever since those early days.
Your basil has picked up names in dozens of languages as it spread around the globe. The French call it basilic and use it in soups and sauces. In Italy you'll hear basilico at every market. Hindi speakers know it as Sabja or Tukmaria, though those names point more to the seeds than the leaves. Thai speakers call their local type horapha. Each culture gave this herb its own name as it spread along old trade routes and landed in local kitchens near you and me all over the world.
You'll also run into names based on specific sweet basil types you can grow at home. Genovese is the top pick for pesto and Italian sauces because of its bold, classic taste. Lettuce leaf basil grows leaves as big as your palm and wraps around food like a tortilla. Mrs. Burns' Lemon basil adds citrus notes to your fish and seafood dishes. Dark Opal basil turns a deep purple color that looks great on your plate. Every one of these is still the same species under the hood.
I tested this myself by buying three different basil plants with three different name tags from the same garden center last spring. I grew them side by side in the same pot with the same soil and water schedule. They all looked the same, smelled the same, and tasted the same when I mixed them into my pesto. The only real difference was the price tag on each one. Save your money and grab whatever sweet basil costs the least at your local store.
When you shop for seeds or starter plants, look for any label that says sweet basil, common basil, or Genovese basil. You can also search for Ocimum basilicum if you want to be extra sure about what you're getting. All of these give you that same mild, peppery herb that works great in your pesto, salads, and pasta dishes. If the label says Thai basil or holy basil, those are different types with their own flavors. They won't taste the same in your Italian recipes at all, so always double check the name before you buy.
Read the full article: Sweet Basil: Varieties, Growing, and Uses
