Basil - Mrs Burns Lemon Basil

Mrs Burns Lemon Basil
Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum var. citriodura 'Mrs. Burns'

Lemon basil (Mrs Burns) has an intense lemon aroma and a flavour that is stronger than regular lemon basil. This heirloom variety is ideal for dishes where both a lemon and basil flavour is required. Lemon basil makes a refreshing pesto and is excellent for herbal vinegars, salad dressings, salads, fish and many other dishes. It has been reported that Mrs Burns, lemon basil, is considered to be an idol among basils, by chefs and gardeners alike.

Mrs Burns lemon basil is a hybrid cultivar developed from lime and sweet basil, in 1941, by Mrs Burns in South Western, New Mexico. This annual variety of basil is more robust, faster growing and taller than other basils. It can reach a height of 60 cm and has larger leaves than other basils. The pink flowers appear in summer and the plant has a delightful fragrance in the garden, where it prefers full sun.

All basils have many essential oils in their leaves. However, the distinctive flavour in some basil is due to each basil plant having a slightly different composition of essential oils. Lemon and lime basil receive their citrus scent from the higher percentage of citral and limonene present in the leaves.

Each basil variety has distinctive features, however, the general properties and growing conditions are very similar and details can be found in our Basil entry.