Basil (Thalictrum) - perennial plant of the buttercup family. About 150-200 species of this plant are known.
In nature, the basilist can be found in the highlands of the tropics of America, in southern Africa, in central Russia.
Tall basil reaches two and a half meters, stunted plants are from 5 cm high.
Flowers of the basilist delight with their original form and airiness; they can be pink, white, yellow, purple-lilac. Inflorescences can be both dense and loose, are connected in a brush or panicle. For the colors of the basilist, such a description is suitable - these are bright fluffy balls.
The rules for the compilation of mixborders suggest a tiered planting - longlines from shrubs, multi-year and annual tall varieties of flowers (aquilegia, asters, delphinium, mullein, lupine, sunflower, chrysanthemums; medium-sized (cornflower, basil, gypsophilia, flox, and red rose; euphorbia); the last tier of undersized (pansies, alpine asters, periwinkle, pinaceae, iberis, saxifrage, young, wormwood, primroses)
Site selection and soil preparation
The penumbra will be the best choice for the location of the basilica, since the flowers of the plant will burn out in the open sunny area, and more frequent watering will be needed so that the flowering does not decrease.
The soil can be any, but the basil will develop better and faster on well-moisturized and fertile soil, burnt and weeded from weeds.
The composition of the soil is better to choose with a neutral level of acidity, it can be loamy and sandy soils.
Did you know? Vasilistnik blooms only in the second year after planting.
Preparation of seedlings before planting
Before planting seedlings of basil, their roots are soaked in special solutions, including:
- "Gumat"
- "Kornevin"
- "Epin"
- "Heteroauxin".
Planting young seedlings of the basil
It is necessary to moisten the soil well and prepare the wells for planting the basil, while keeping a distance of 40 cm between them, and if it is a tall variety, it is better to select 50 cm. Do not forget that the basil is a perennial plant, which means it will grow, and plants should not interfere with each other's development.
After planting seedlings, you need to powder their roots and ram the ground around the plants, and after that - water them. It happens that the soil at the same time sags, then you should add a little and tamp it again so that the root neck is flush with the ground.
Important! Basil should be tied up after landing in the ground.
Care and characteristics of growing a cornflower
Basil in general is an unpretentious plant, but when it is grown it is worth adhering to certain rules in order to preserve its main value - bright fluffy flowers. 
How to conduct watering
Timely watering the basil will provide him with good quality and duration of flowering. Excess moisture will not harm the plant. In the dry season, watering should be more frequent and should be carried out as the soil dries around the plant. Insufficient moistening of the basilist leads to the fact that its flowers will lose the saturation of colors, as well as its fragrance.
Weed removal and soil loosening
Compaction of the soil around the basil is a signal that the plant needs careful loosening to ensure access of air and moisture to the roots of the plant. You also need to timely with weeding to remove weeds that may hinder the growth and development of the bush.
The role of mulch
The mulching of the basil will prevent the evaporation of the necessary roots of moisture, in addition, it can prevent the emergence of weeds near the plant. To prepare a basil for winter, the land around it must be mulched using peat or humus. 
When to feed
Planting of the basil can be carried out in the soil with fertilizers, in this case, fertilizing will be needed only in the third year. If the soil was not fertilized, then fertilizing, which is introduced into the soil or under mulch, is needed by the plant twice a year: in the spring - with nitrogen fertilizers, in the autumn - with complex mineral fertilizers.
Pruning
After the basilist has finished flowering, it is pruned - at the root.
However, this applies only to tall bushes, the short stalker does not need pruning. Since the plant has a tendency to self-seeding, faded inflorescences can be removed.
Basilica diseases and pests, how to fight them
Vasilistnik rarely suffers from diseases, but he has a disease such as powdery mildew: there are white spots on the leaves, blackening on the stems, and the lower leaves turn yellow. In this case, you need to use the drug "Topaz". You can also carry out prevention with special means.
Among the pests of the basilist there is aphid, less often bronzovka, which appear when the plant is insufficiently moist. Spraying with insecticides purchased in a specialized shop helps a lot from such pests, for example, it can be Akarin, Karbofos, Bankol, Biotlin. Spraying is not only the leaves, but also the ground around the plant. 
Ways of reproduction
A feature of this plant is the tendency to self-seeding. However, if you want to grow new basil bushes yourself, it is better to choose the division of the bush or grafting.
Seeds
To grow a basil from seeds, it is necessary to collect them in the fall, and you can immediately sow the seeds in open ground. However, you need to have time to do it before frost. If you decide to save them until spring, then you should definitely spend a cold stratification for them (about a month) to improve germination.
After this preparation, the basil sprouts will quickly grow and develop, and the plant will bloom in the second year.
Did you know? Basil bush can grow in one place for about 15 years, while tolerating frost well.
Cuttings
In order to conduct grafting of the basilus, it is necessary to carefully cut off the young shoots from the bush with leaves that are not yet fully developed, then put them in a container with water. To speed up the appearance and development of roots, you can add special tools, for example, "Kornevin". Planting of prepared cuttings is carried out in open ground, the distance between them should be about 40 cm. 
Important! Cuttings will take root better in the previously prepared compost: it is mixed with soil mixed with humus from leaves, sand and complex fertilizer.
Dividing bush
This method of reproduction of the basil among gardeners is the most common. For its successful implementation, the bush must be dug in the middle of spring or early autumn, neatly divided into parts and transplanted to selected places in a moist soil.
Application in landscape design
Because of its interesting appearance, the basilist finds its use in creating landscape design. A large plant is used in the design of borders, small bushes adorn the garden, both independently and in composition, and they can also be planted on an alpine slide or even in pots.
Basil can be combined with plants such as phlox, iris, buzulnik. The plant will favorably emphasize the beauty of roses, lilies. You can land a moisture-loving basil in the garden near the reservoir, picking up a host, brunner, astilbe, daylily, and dwarf in his company.
In springtime, the flowering bulbs - daffodils, tulips, crocuses will look very nice against the background of a grassy basil.
Did you know? Often, a basil in landscape design is used in a solitary planting, which clearly highlights it in the garden.
Healing properties of the basilist
Basil is valued as a medicinal plant, but due to the fact that this flower is highly toxic, it should be used carefully and only after consulting a doctor.
Flowers, leaves and basil root are used to make powders, tinctures, decoctions, ointments. Basil has antiseptic, antispasmodic, hemostatic properties.
The plant helps in the treatment of neurological, ophthalmic, gynecological diseases, as well as in hypertension and diseases of the lungs, gastrointestinal tract.
Basil is a perennial with beautiful flowers. Planting and caring for the plant does not require significant effort, and the basilist can become an ornament to your garden.
