African blue basil (Ocimum kilimandscharicum × Ocimum basilicum 'Dark Opal') is a sterile hybrid basil with purple stems, green leaves with purple veining, and abundant lavender flowers. Unlike most annual basils, it grows into a large, shrubby plant that can reach more than 3 feet tall and continues producing well into fall in cooler climates. Its East African camphor basil parent contributes a distinctive aromatic character, giving the leaves a bolder flavor than sweet basil with notes of camphor, clove, mint, and spice. African blue basil is edible and excellent in pestos, sauces, curries, soups, and other cooked dishes, while its long-lasting flowers attract bees and other pollinators throughout the growing season.