কৃষ্ণ তুলসী

Highly revered in Ayurveda. Stronger aroma and higher medicinal potency. Ocimum tenuiflorum (Krishna Tulsi / Holy Basil) is a sacred aromatic herb native to the Indian Subcontinent. Features purple-green serrated leaves with violet stems and light purple flowers. Known as the "Queen of Herbs" for its spiritual, religious, and medicinal importance in Hinduism. Used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine for its adaptogenic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and radioprotective properties. Essential oils contain eugenol, ursolic acid, rosmarinic acid, and other bioactive compounds. Tastes similar to black pepper. Grown in temple gardens and households throughout India. Genome sequenced (374 Mb draft).

### Seasonal Care & Maintenance Guide for Krishna Tulsi - **Light Requirements**: Requires full sun to partial sun (4–6 hours daily). Ensure ample light to maintain tight growth nodes and vibrant coloration. - **Watering Routine**: Moderate – Keep evenly moist during active growth; avoid waterlogging. Always test soil moisture before watering. Ensure drainage holes are completely unobstructed to prevent root rot. - **Temperature & Humidity**: Thrives at 18°C–35°C (65°F–95°F). Protect from frost, cold drafts, and prolonged water stagnation during monsoon months. - **Pruning & Training**: Prune dead, leggy, or yellowing stems during early spring to stimulate fresh bushier growth and abundant blooms.

### Potting & Planting Instructions for Krishna Tulsi 1. **Container Selection**: Choose a terracotta, ceramic, or nursery pot with generous drainage holes at the base. 2. **Soil Mix Recipe**: Use Well-draining garden soil enriched with 30% organic vermicompost. Adding a layer of coarse gravel or leca at the bottom enhances oxygenation. 3. **Planting Depth**: Position the plant at the exact same root collar depth as in its nursery container. Avoid burying stems too deep. 4. **Initial Settling**: After potting, water thoroughly until water drains freely, then place in bright indirect light for 3–5 days to acclimatize before moving to full sun.

Harvest mature stems/leaves as needed using clean sterilized pruning shears.

Pairs wonderfully with drought-tolerant companion plants and complementary herbs & medicinal varieties.

Origin Country

Indian Subcontinent (India, Sri Lanka) and Southeast Asia

Climate Zone

USDA 10b-11 (grown as annual in cooler zones)

Alternative Names

Holy Basil, Tulsi, Tulasi, Sacred Basil, Monk's Basil, Purple-stalked Basil, Thai Basil, Shyama Tulsi

Plant Age

Leaves harvestable in 6-8 weeks; flowers in summer

Pot Size

Container 12+ inches with good drainage

Mature Height

1.5-2.5 ft

Mature Width

2–4 ft

Growth Rate

Fast

Soil Mix

Well-drained

Germination

7-14 days at 20-25°C (gentle heat)

Blooming Season

Summer (purple/pink flowers in close whorls on elongated racemes)

Fruiting Season

Small nutlets/seeds after flowering

Flower Color

Purple/pink (in close whorls on elongated racemes)

Fruit Color

Small brown/black nutlets

Yield / Year

Continuous leaf harvest throughout growing season

Lifespan

Perennial in tropics (USDA 10b-11); grown as annual in cooler zones

Rootstock

Grown from seed or stem cuttings

Toxicity Info

Generally safe for culinary/medicinal use in normal amounts. Essential oil toxic to insects (mosquito larvae). Large quantities may cause digestive upset in pets. Not listed as toxic by ASPCA.