Least basil
Ocimum campechianum
Last reviewed: August 2026
Light
part sun
Water
medium
Size
12"–36" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Native to
FL
Pollinators
bees, butterflies
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaAn aromatic, upright herb with soft, hairy leaves and slender spikes of small white flowers over a long warm-season bloom period. It grows along the edges of shaded hammock habitat and disturbed ground.
Wildlife value
The abundant small flowers attract native bees and small butterflies through summer and fall.
Common questions
- How much sun does Least basil need?
- Least basil grows best in part sun conditions.
- When does Least basil bloom?
- Least basil blooms in June, July, August, September, and October.
- Where is Least basil native?
- Least basil (Ocimum campechianum) is native to FL, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What pollinators does Least basil attract?
- Least basil draws bees and butterflies.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Ready to grow Least basil? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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