Licorice Basil (Anise Basil) care

Light

Licorice Basil needs sun on the leaves, not just bright ambient room light. Full sun, 6-8 hours, for compact, aromatic, flavour-packed growth. Indoors give the brightest window or supplementary light; low light causes leggy, pale, weak-flavoured plants. A south or west-facing windowsill in the northern hemisphere is the default; anywhere else, expect the plant to stretch and pale out within a season.

Watering

Water licorice basil when the top 2-3 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 2-4 days in summer. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Keep evenly moist but never waterlogged. Basil wilts when dry yet rots in soggy soil; water at the base in the morning so foliage dries and roots never sit wet.

Soil and pot

Licorice Basil grows best in fertile, well-drained loam. Rich, moisture-retentive but free-draining soil, pH 6.0-7.0. Work in compost before planting; heavy wet soils invite root rot and cold-induced blackening. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Licorice Basil sits happiest at around 40-60% humidity and 18-28°C (64-82°F). Prefers moderate humidity with good airflow. Stagnant damp air encourages downy mildew and fungal leaf spot, while very dry indoor air can crisp leaf edges. If you keep the room above 18 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed licorice basil sparingly. Moderate feeder for leaf. Mix compost in at planting and feed with a balanced or nitrogen-leaning liquid feed every 2-3 weeks; avoid excess nitrogen, which dilutes the aromatic oils. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on licorice basil in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Cold damage and blackening — Basil is highly frost-tender; temperatures below about 10°C blacken leaves. Plant out only after frosts, and bring containers in or take cuttings before cold nights.
• Bolting to flower — Heat, stress, or neglect pushes early flowering, which slows leaf production and alters flavour. Pinch out flower spikes and harvest tips regularly to keep it leafy.
• Downy mildew — Humid, crowded, or overhead-watered plants develop yellowing and grey mould on leaf undersides. Improve airflow, water at the base, and remove affected foliage promptly.
• Fusarium wilt and root rot — Soggy or infected soil causes sudden wilting and stem browning. Use fresh well-drained compost, avoid overwatering, and don't replant basil in affected ground.

Propagation

From seed surface-sown in warmth in spring, or from softwood stem cuttings, which root readily in water or moist compost within a couple of weeks. Pinch tips to bush out. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Licorice Basil is pet-safe. ASPCA-listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs. Basil (Ocimum basilicum) appears on the ASPCA non-toxic plant list, and this cultivar shares that classification; the foliage poses no recognised poisoning risk to pets, though large quantities may cause mild, transient stomach upset. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Licorice Basil deep-dive guides

Every aspect of licorice basil care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Licorice Basil watering schedule
• Licorice Basil light requirements
• Best soil mix for licorice basil
• Licorice Basil fertilizing guide
• When to repot licorice basil
• How to propagate licorice basil
• Licorice Basil growth rate & size
• Licorice Basil cold hardiness
• Licorice Basil temperature & humidity
• Is licorice basil toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is licorice basil toxic to cats?
• Is licorice basil toxic to dogs?

Featured in these plant shortlists

Licorice Basil qualifies for 2 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best pet-safe low-maintenance plants — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and forgiving of forgotten watering — the easiest safe choices for a busy pet household.
• Best fragrant houseplants — Indoor plants with scented flowers or aromatic foliage — greenery you can smell, selected from our care library.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Licorice Basil is also commonly called Licorice Basil or Anise Basil.

• Basil care — light, water and common problems
• Herb garden care — light, water and common problems
• Mint care — light, water and common problems
• All 5561 plant care guides in the Growli library