Scent Leaf 🍃 (ocimum gratissimum)

Scent leaf which is also known as ocimum gratissimum is a native herb that is known widely in West Africa.

Scent leaf is used for different purposes in Nigeria such as cooking which adds flavor to foods, used as medicines for different purposes in the body.

These scent leafs have been here for a while before I came into the compound, myself and my neighbors have been the one taking care of it. For a while the whole plant has been totally dried without leafs but since when the rain started falling it has begin to prone out beautiful leafs that brings out amazing aroma even when you just pass by.

I feel naturally grown scent leaves without the use of chemicals (fertilizers)for growth are the best kind, it gives you total nutrients that you would expect from your leaf,full scent that cannot be missed when perceived.

There are different ways or methods of growing this scent leaf plants

stems: when a stem of scent leaf is cut out from the whole plant, and the leaf used, the stem can be placed into the ground and allowed to grow.

Root: This is one of the most common method of growing scent leaf, the root of an immature or mature growing scent leaf is uprooted and transplanted wherever needed for growth.

Seeds: The matured dried seed that fell on the ground, are the ones bringing out this amazing green scent leafs on different locations in the compound, this is due to the fact that wind blows and rain washes them far away and then inbed them into the ground which later starts to germinate.

All these are best grown in loamy or sandy-loam soil,this soil are best because it retains more water which will sustain the plants for a period of time.Unwanted plants are cleared and burnt so as to get rid of pest and termites.

All photos are mine

@tehilah