Mature size & growth rate

How big does Licorice Basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Licorice') get?

Also called Licorice Basil, Anise Basil.

More about licorice basil

About Licorice Basil

Ocimum basilicum 'Licorice' · also called Licorice Basil, Anise Basil · herb

Licorice basil is an aromatic, tender annual cultivar of sweet basil with a strong anise-licorice fragrance, purple-flushed stems, and pink-tinged flower spikes. It is grown like any culinary basil, needing warmth, full sun, and steady moisture, and it crops best when pinched regularly. Frost-sensitive, it thrives in summer beds, containers, and warm windowsills.

Mature size: 30-60 cm tall and 25-35 cm wide.

Watch for — 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.

Indoor size vs how big it gets in the wild

Licorice Basil reaches its full size within one growing season — there is no "long-term" size, just how big it gets before you harvest or it dies back. Indoors and in a pot, expect 30-60 cm tall and 25-35 cm wide.. A pot, your light levels and a little pruning are what set the final size in a home, far more than the plant's theoretical potential.

It sizes up fast and once, racing from seedling to full size in a single season; after cropping it is finished, so size is a within-season question.

Growth rate and years to mature

Licorice Basil is a fast grower. Realistically, expect a single growing season — it reaches full size in one year, then is done. Its feeding profile backs this up: 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.

Want this turned into the right next pot at the right moment? The pot size calculator and the licorice basil repotting guide cover when and how much to size up — pot size is one of the biggest levers on how fast licorice basil grows.

How to keep licorice basil smaller

You are not stuck with the maximum size. For licorice basil specifically, these are the levers, in order of impact:

Choose a compact or dwarf variety of licorice basil from the start — that is the most reliable size control for an annual.
Grow it in a smaller container to naturally limit how large it gets.
For some crops, pinching or pruning the growing tips keeps the plant shorter and bushier.
Sow a little later or space plants closer if you specifically want smaller individual plants.

How to grow licorice basil bigger or faster

If you want it to fill the space sooner, push the conditions rather than hoping — for licorice basil the accelerators are:

Full sun, warm soil and steady water are what drive a crop to full size fastest.
Sow at the right time for your zone so it gets the whole season to size up.
Feed appropriately for the crop and never let it check (stall) from drought or cold.

Light is almost always the ceiling. The licorice basil light requirements page covers exactly how bright a spot it needs to grow at its potential instead of stalling.

When licorice basil outgrows the room (or the pot)

"Too big" usually arrives as one of these signs for licorice basil:

It sprawls beyond its bed or container before harvest — usually a spacing or support issue.
It flops or needs staking once it hits full height.
Once it has fruited or bolted, it is at its final size for good — the next plant is a new sowing.

If it is the pot rather than the room, it is a repotting job, not a goodbye — see the licorice basil repotting guide. If you want more of this plant instead of a bigger one, the licorice basil propagation guide turns prunings into new plants.

Licorice Basil size — frequently asked questions

How big does licorice basil get?

Licorice Basil reaches 30-60 cm tall and 25-35 cm wide. when grown indoors. It sizes up fast and once, racing from seedling to full size in a single season; after cropping it is finished, so size is a within-season question.

Is licorice basil slow or fast growing?

Licorice Basil is a fast grower. Expect a single growing season — it reaches full size in one year, then is done. Licorice Basil reaches its full size within one growing season — there is no "long-term" size, just how big it gets before you harvest or it dies back.

How long does licorice basil take to reach full size?

Roughly a single growing season — it reaches full size in one year, then is done. Light, pot size and feeding move that timeline more than anything else.

How do I keep licorice basil smaller?

Choose a compact or dwarf variety of licorice basil from the start — that is the most reliable size control for an annual. Grow it in a smaller container to naturally limit how large it gets. For some crops, pinching or pruning the growing tips keeps the plant shorter and bushier. Sow a little later or space plants closer if you specifically want smaller individual plants.

How can I make licorice basil grow bigger or faster?

Full sun, warm soil and steady water are what drive a crop to full size fastest. Sow at the right time for your zone so it gets the whole season to size up. Feed appropriately for the crop and never let it check (stall) from drought or cold.