Annual. Purple Petra basil has a mild sweet taste that is nice for those of us that love basil"s flavor, but shy away from too much herbal spiciness. Its large shiny leaves are dark reddish-purple and grow vigorously to a height of 24\. Its excellent sweet taste goes well in a variety of Italian dishes, pesto, pasta, and salads. You can grow it as a companion plant for your tomatoes or in other areas of the garden as an ornamental. In a warm, south-facing window, you can even grow it inside during winter! (Harvest leaves often to keep these 18Ôø?-24Ôø? plants compact and encourage new leaf production.) Used as a backdrop in the flowerbed, Purple Petra"s dark reddish-purple leaves will make yellow and apple green colors stand out.