Seasonal Wild Flowers

Wild Basil

Clinopodium vulgare

Lamiaceae

July to November

It is found throughout the country but is patchy in the

North.

See the BSBI distribution map for Wild Basil

It grows in hedges, hedge banks, grassland, waste

ground, cliffs, quaries, and dunes

Wild Basil is a native, aromatic, rhizomatous perennial

herb, growing up to 80cm.

Flowers are pink and up to 22mm across.

The calyx is jagged, purple and with white hairs.

The five petals form a lipped corollary tube.

There are 4 stamens (the 5th is missing, and the style

branches at the top.

The flowers are in whorls, either at the apex or along

the stem.

Leaves are pointed ovals, downy and up to 5cm.

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Next page: Wild Teasel

Wild Basil, Ham Hill, South Somerset

Flowers at the top of the plant

Flowers at a mid-stem whorl

Flower showing 4 stamens and style

Flower showing equal-lobed lips

Apical and stem whorls after flowering

Leaves and habit