Native to Southeast Asia, basil has been used in cooking and for fragrances for centuries. Brought to Europe in the Middle Ages, it thrived in the Mediterranean region as well as around the Caspian and Black Seas. Burpee first offered basil in 1908. This Greek basil has tiny leaves on dome shaped, 8" tall plants. Great with tomatoes, in salads or sauces, and it makes an admirable ornamental in containers and the garden too.