Basil flowers, like the rest of the plant, are considered to be non-toxic to domesticated animals such as dogs, cats and horses under normal circumstances. Basil flowers and leaves do contain plant compounds that can be harmful to their digestive systems when consumed in mass quantities, though.
While I was reading we ran into the query “Can basil be toxic?”.
Here is what my research found. the entire flowering top can be added to your dish. Basil flowers, like the rest of the plant, are considered to be non-toxic to domesticated animals such as dogs, cats and horses under normal circumstances. Basil flowers and leaves do contain plant compounds that can be harmful to their digestive systems when consumed in mass quantities, though.
This of course begs the inquiry “Are blossoms from basil plants safe to eat?”
One way to think about this is blossoms from basil (Ocimum basilicum), a perennial in zone 10 and an annual everywhere else, fall into the “safe ” category. Basil is one of many herbs in which both the flowers and the foliage are edible . Like many pesto enthusiasts, you probably pinch the blooms from your basil plants to encourage lusher leaf growth.
When applied to the skin: Basil essential oil is POSSIBLY SAFEwhen applied to the skinin concentrations of up to 6% for 12 weeks. When inhaled as aromatherapy: There isn’t enough reliable information to know to know if basil is safe or what the side effects might be.
This begs the inquiry “Is it bad to eat too much Basil?”
One idea is that in some people basil can cause low blood sugar . The above-ground parts of basil and basil oil are POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth as a medicine, long-term. These contain estragole, a chemical that might increase the risk of getting liver cancer.
Because of the way holy basil is processed in the liver, the herb can interfere with the way other herbal supplements are absorbed in the body . Holy basil can intensify the effects of certain herbs or supplements, resulting in excessive levels of those herbs in the blood.
Should basil flower?
Basil plants are supposed to flower so the plant can reproduce but if you are growing basil at home to eat it is best to prune the flowers off. Flowering basil can look beautiful and attract bees but it will cause the leaves to taste bitter and the stems to become woody.
The foliage is easily bruised, releasing the magnificent perfume. So then, should basil be allowed to flower ? So, if your basil plant has flowered, is this a good thing or a bad thing? If you are cultivating basil strictly for its leaves, it is best to remove the flowers.
Our answer is if you are cultivating basil strictly for its leaves , it is best to remove the flowers. Pinching basil blooms back will allow all of the plant’s energy to stay focused on foliage production, creating a bushier plant with more leaves and maintaining higher levels of essential oils in the leaves.
If your basil plant has flowered , the question of what to do depends on what you are growing the herb for. Basil is a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae, with over 40 known varieties.
One way to think about this is when your homegrown basil plant starts flowering it means that it is changing from growth mode to reproduction mode . This means that the plants energy is going into flowering rather than growing leaves, and so once basil blooms the leaves start to lose their flavor do not grow back as vigorously when harvested.
Why are the flowers of some plants poisonous?
The toxicity level in the plants is high during the early growth stage, but in flowers, the toxin level increases even late in the season as well. The toxicity is due to the presence of several alkaloids in it .
Is it easy to grow Basil at home?
Growing basil at home is easy , as it is a very low-maintenance as long as you give it a lot of sunlight and enough water. Healthy homegrown basil will produce lots of leaves throughout the growing season, but when the growing season is over, the plant will flower.