Looks like my Purple/Red Basil when it doesn't get the right amt. of sun. If it has a peppery/lightly spicy flavor, that's it.

It grew directly next to purple basil, which came out normal. I think it's different. Plus, it got about 10 hours of sun and seems healthy. I'm hoping it's not diseased. I was planning on using it to make pesto tonight.

It is Dark Opal basil, one of the early cultivars developed in the attempt to produce a purple basil. There still will be some "sports" turn up in a packet of seed. I love the variegated, splashed-with-paint look and when I worked as a seeder/transplanter at a small local nursery the boss allowed me to take all these "rogue" forms that showed up among the uniformly purple ones. LOL When I was selling herbs to several local gourmet shops, the Dark Opal sports were a hot seller since they are so decorative!

Here is a link that might be useful: Dark Opal Basil

thanks weedlady!! That's totally it. Pesto it is for dinner tonight :)

Cool!! I'd never heard of that variety before.... Good for you =)

The flavor of the purple basils is good, but makes an ugly-colored pesto -- looks more like a Mexican mole sauce (the stuff made with chili peppers, not the furry subterranean mammal! LOL).
BEST pesto basil is Genovese, hands down. The chef I was selling herbs to would accept no other!

thanks weedlady!! That's totally it. Pesto it is for dinner tonight :)