Native to India, basil was held in great reverence and was used by Indians to swear their oaths in court upon.

In Italy, on the other hand, it symbolises love.. Italian suitors signalled their love by courting with a sprig of basil in their hair. In Mexico it is carried around in the hope of returning a lover’s roving eye.

Basil was found growing around Christ’s tomb after the resurrection, and it has been used in the preparation of holy water in the Greek Orthodox church. Pots of basil are kept around the church alters. In some cultures it symbolises hatred; in some it is associated with scorpions.

It was feared that scorpions would grow under pots of basil and that smelling the aroma would cause scorpions to grow in the brain! There are many varieties of basil.

Bush basil is native to South America.