Free tracked UK delivery on plant orders • DEFRA registered grower no. 153094
The Forgotten GardenThe Forgotten GardenRare plants with a story
Cinnamon Basil

Herbs

Cinnamon Basil

Ocimum basilicum ‘Cinnamon’

Basil with a warm cinnamon-like fragrance — familiar enough to use immediately, unusual enough to be interesting.

AnnualCinnamon scentContainer friendly
Awaiting restock

Plants are grown on a small scale. The exact supplied size and format can vary with the season; when this item is available, the current sale details are shown here.

This plant is currently awaiting restock.
LifecycleAnnual (grown fresh each season)
PositionFull sun (sheltered, warm position preferred)
SoilRich, free-draining soil or good-quality potting compost in a warm position.
Garden sizeUpright growth reaching 40–70 cm tall, with narrow leaves and delicate flower spikes
ContainerVery well suited to containers (minimum 20–25 cm diameter); pots allow warmth and easy positioning
Historic erasGeorgian

Why it belongs in a forgotten garden

Cinnamon Basil — the story

Why grow it?

A warm-season herb with the familiar softness of basil plus a distinct spicy, cinnamon-like perfume. It is as useful in fruit and drinks as it is with savoury food.

History & context

Fragrant and slightly unexpected, Cinnamon Basil brings warmth and spice to the garden in a way that feels both familiar and novel. While basil has been grown for centuries, this aromatic form reflects a growing interest in flavour variation and culinary refinement, where herbs were valued not just for use, but for character. Upright, decorative, and richly scented, Cinnamon Basil earns its place as a kitchen garden curiosity.

Explore its place in Georgian garden history.

Growing guide

How to grow Cinnamon Basil

Soil & position

Rich, free-draining soil or good-quality potting compost in a warm position.

Light: Full sun (sheltered, warm position preferred)

Water

Keep evenly moist but never permanently waterlogged. Containers dry quickly in summer.

Propagation

Sow seed with warmth in spring, or take soft cuttings in summer. It is frost tender.

Sowing referenceSow May–JunDepth: 1–2 mm • Cold treatment: No

Ongoing care

Pinch growing tips regularly to encourage branching and remove flower spikes if leaf production is the priority.

From garden to kitchen

Harvesting & eating it

When to harvest

Harvest leaves repeatedly from early summer until cold weather. Pick before flowering for the softest flavour.

Pinch shoot tips regularly and harvest leaves before flowering for the strongest flavour. Removing flower spikes keeps plants producing leaves longer.

What is edible?

Leaves, tender stems and flowers.

Flavour & cooking

Leaves carry a warm, sweet spice reminiscent of cinnamon and clove, making them well suited to fruit dishes, teas, syrups, and lightly spiced savoury recipes. Flowers are also edible and aromatic, adding both flavour and visual interest.

Food value

Used as a herb rather than a bulk vegetable; its chief value is aromatic flavour and the variety it brings to summer cooking.

Traditional medicinal uses, where mentioned in the historical material, are included as history rather than medical advice.

Kitchen idea

Cinnamon Basil plum syrup

A quick syrup makes the spicy aroma obvious without overwhelming it.

You’ll need

  • 300 g ripe plums, stoned and chopped
  • 150 g sugar
  • 200 ml water
  • 1 generous handful Cinnamon Basil leaves
  • 1 strip lemon peel
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice

Method

  1. Put the plums, sugar, water and lemon peel in a saucepan and simmer for 12 minutes.
  2. Lightly bruise the basil leaves and add them to the hot fruit.
  3. Take off the heat, cover and infuse for 15 minutes.
  4. Strain through a fine sieve, pressing gently, then return the liquid to the pan.
  5. Add lemon juice and simmer for 2–3 minutes before cooling and bottling.

How tough is it?

Resilience, pests & garden value

Resilience

Quick-growing and productive in warm conditions, Cinnamon Basil thrives with regular harvesting and good airflow. While sensitive to cold, it rewards care with abundant growth, making it an ideal container-grown herb for sunny gardens and sheltered spaces.

Pests & practical problems

Cold is the main enemy. Aphids, whitefly and slugs can attack soft growth, particularly under cover.

Wildlife value

If allowed to flower, basil is very attractive to bees.

Growing in a container

Very well suited to containers (minimum 20–25 cm diameter); pots allow warmth and easy positioning

Container plants generally need more frequent watering and feeding than the same plant in open ground.

Ready to grow it?

Cinnamon Basil

Plants are grown on a small scale. The exact supplied size and format can vary with the season; when this item is available, the current sale details are shown here.

Awaiting restock

If this caught your eye…

Keep exploring

Plants with a similar use, growing style or piece of history.

Angelica
Awaiting restock

Angelica

Angelica archangelica

BiennialArchitecturalAromatic stems

A towering aromatic biennial once prized for candied stems, preserves and liqueurs.

Explore this plant
Chervil
Awaiting restock

Chervil

Anthriscus cerefolium

AnnualDelicate anise flavourPart shade

A delicate old kitchen-garden herb with a soft parsley-and-anise flavour.

Explore this plant
Chinese Onion Chive
Awaiting restock

Chinese Onion Chive

Allium tuberosum

PerennialGarlic-flavoured leavesEdible white flowers

A perennial chive with flat leaves and a gentle garlic flavour — cut it repeatedly, eat the flowers and divide the clump when you want more.

Explore this plant