The plant can be used fresh in floral arrangements or dried in potpourris. The fresh or dry leaves can be used alone or in combination with other herbs for herbal tea mixes. A new chemotype of basil from Africa identified by Jim Simon and Denys Charles appears promising as a natural source of geraniol. This unique plant is a tree type of African basil, that can reach up to 8' in height. Typically this species contains high amounts of eugenol or thymol, not geraniol.
Studies are underway to obtain true breeding types adapted to the Midwest.