AAS Winners
Basil 'Magical Michael'
2002 AAS Vegetable Award Winner
An ornamental, edible sweet basil with a clearly refined plant size and shape, 'Magical Michael' plants are uniform and reliably 15 inches tall and 16-17 inches wide. This uniformity is rare in sweet basil plants. The lush aromatic, green leaves can be harvested within 30 days of transplanting and are rich in essential oils for cooking. Plants may flower when mature in about 80 to 90 days from seed. The small flowers are a curiosity since the calices are purple and corollas white. They are attractive for use as a garnish, adding color to any salad.
| AAS Winner Primary Details | |
|---|---|
| Award: | AAS Vegetable Award Winner |
| Class: | Basil |
| Variety Name: | 'Magical Michael' |
| Genus: | Ocimum |
| Species: | basilicum |
| Year: | 2002 |
| Common Name: | Sweet Basil |
| Type: | Vegetables |
| Breeder: | PanAmerican Seed |
| Close Market Comparison: | 'Anise Basil,' 'Genovese,' 'Siam Queen' |
| Plant Needs | |
|---|---|
| Duration Type: | Annual |
| Light Needs: | Full sun |
| Water Needs: | Normal |
| Season Type: | Warm Season |
| Staking Required: | NO |
| Plant Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Foliage Color: | Dark green |
| Plant Habit: | Bushy, Compact |
| Plant Height: | Medium: 10" to 24" |
| Garden Spacing: | 15-18 inches |
| Days To Harvest (Sowing Seed): | Leaves can be cut after 50-60 days and inforescences after 80-85 days |
| Days To Harvest (Transplant): | Leaves after 30 days and inforescences after 50 days |
| Fruit Color (Harvest): | green leaves, flowers are small with purple calices and white corollas |
| Plant Spread: | 16-17 inches |
| Home Gardener Use | |
|---|---|
| Container: | YES |
| Herb: | YES |
How to Grow
Seeds germinate fast (4-6 days) and the plant reaches full bloom after 80-90 days.This new type of basil has a round shape with a flat top where most of the compact inforescences develop. Flowers are small with purple calices and white corollas. The aroma is similar to a sweet basil with a slightly distinct aroma. Leaves are dark green.
2004 Gold Medal Winner
Celosia 'Fresh Look Red' (plumosa)
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