Types of Tulsi: A Guide to Holy Basil Varieties (Rama, Krishna, Vana, Amrita)
For centuries, tulsi — also known as holy basil — has been revered as a sacred plant in Ayurvedic medicine and Hindu tradition. But there isn't just one kind. Tulsi is an umbrella name for a small family of plants spanning three different species and several cultivars within those species, each with its own appearance, aroma, and traditional use.
This guide sorts out the main types of tulsi, the species each belongs to, and how the most common cultivars compare. For how holy basil differs from common culinary basil, see our companion guide to holy basil vs basil.
What Is Tulsi?
Tulsi is an aromatic, tender perennial subshrub in the mint family (Lamiaceae), grown for its leaves and small, fragrant flower spikes. Botanically, the plants we call tulsi belong to three different species in the genus Ocimum:
- Ocimum tenuiflorum (also known by its synonym Ocimum sanctum) — the species behind Rama, Krishna, and Amrita tulsi. This is what most people mean when they say "holy basil."
- Ocimum gratissimum — Vana tulsi, also called clove basil, tree basil, or African basil. A larger, more vigorous tropical species genetically distinct from O. tenuiflorum.
- Ocimum africanum (sometimes classified as Ocimum × africanum) — Temperate Tulsi, often sold under the name Kapoor. The most cold-tolerant of the three species. Its taxonomy remains debated; some sources still classify it under O. basilicum or O. tenuiflorum.
The five varieties we describe below all share tulsi's broad medicinal reputation — well-documented adaptogenic and antimicrobial activity — but differ in aroma, flavour, and traditional energetic profile.
Is Tulsi a Perennial?
In its native tropical habitat, tulsi is a tender perennial. In cold climates like ours in Charlevoix, Québec, it cannot overwinter outdoors and is grown as an annual from seed each spring. Temperate Tulsi (Kapoor) is the most cold-forgiving of the species; the tropical species (especially Vana) struggle in northern gardens without greenhouse protection.
Tulsi in Ayurveda
In Ayurvedic tradition, tulsi is considered a sacred plant with sattvic qualities — supporting clarity, purity, and harmony of body and mind. It is classified as a Rasayana, or rejuvenative herb, in the classical texts overseen by India's Ministry of AYUSH. Each variety is associated with slightly different doshic effects, meaning traditional herbalists choose between them based on how they interact with the body's three constitutional energies (vata, pitta, kapha). Rama is generally considered cooling and calming, Krishna warming and stimulating, Vana uplifting.
The Main Types of Tulsi
Below are the five varieties most commonly grown and sold.
Rama Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum)
The most common and accessible cultivar, and one of the two we grow at La Ferme À Ciel Sur Mer.
- Bright green leaves
- Mild, sweet flavour with a clove-like aroma
- Vigorous and dependable in temperate gardens as an annual
Energetics: cooling and calming. Often used in tea blends for general daily wellness and stress support. Rama is what most North American gardeners and tea drinkers encounter first when they discover holy basil — easy to grow from seed, productive through the season, and pleasant to drink fresh or dried.
Krishna Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum)
Also known as Shyama tulsi — same species as Rama, but a cultivar with darker, anthocyanin-rich foliage and a stronger flavour.
- Purple-tinged leaves that mature to a mottled green-and-purple
- Strong, peppery aroma
- More intense, more medicinal flavour profile than Rama
Energetics: warming and stimulating. Traditionally used for respiratory support and energy. Krishna grows more slowly and is generally lower-yielding than Rama, which is part of why it's less commonly available commercially. We don't currently grow it, though it remains on our list for future trials.
Amrita Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum)
Amrita is widely misidentified online as a Krishna × Vana hybrid. It isn't. Amrita is a Rama-type cultivar of Ocimum tenuiflorum, originally selected from Amritapuri in Kerala, southern India. North American specialist growers like Strictly Medicinal Seeds describe it as similar to Rama but with more purple in the leaves and superior vigour — Amrita is the larger, denser plant of the two. The name "Amrita" is Sanskrit for "immortality" or "nectar."
- Green leaves with purple highlights on a densely-leaved, purple-stemmed bush
- Earthy, lightly spicy fragrance, slightly less eugenol-forward than Rama
- Robust, high-yielding plant
Energetics: similar to Rama — cooling and balancing. Amrita tests notably high in rosmarinic acid, the compound most commonly associated with tulsi's calming effects. We grow Amrita alongside Rama at the farm and find it does well in our protected, sunny growing spots.
Vana Tulsi (Ocimum gratissimum)
Genetically distinct from Rama and Krishna — a different species entirely, also known as clove basil, tree basil, or African basil. Vana has noticeably different leaf shape from the O. tenuiflorum tulsis and a more woody, shrub-like growth habit.
- Larger leaves with serrated edges
- Strong clove-rich aroma, owing to high eugenol content (Vana is one of the richest natural sources of eugenol)
- Tall and woody; can reach shrub-like proportions in tropical conditions, often 5 feet or more in a single season
Energetics: uplifting and slightly warming. Traditionally used for energy, digestion, and mood. Vana grows best in genuinely tropical climates and is difficult to manage as an annual in northern gardens without significant heat protection or greenhouse infrastructure.
Temperate Tulsi / Kapoor (Ocimum africanum)
Often sold as "Kapoor Tulsi," though that name is widely regarded as a misnomer — the plant is actually Temperate Tulsi, classified by most sources as Ocimum africanum. Some seed suppliers still classify it under O. basilicum or O. tenuiflorum; the taxonomy remains genuinely debated. What isn't debated is that this is a different species from the Ocimum tenuiflorum tulsis (Rama, Krishna, Amrita) — and the one most willing to grow in temperate climates.
- Smaller leaves than Rama
- Tutti-frutti, slightly fruity fragrance — distinct from the clove-forward aroma of O. tenuiflorum
- Self-seeds readily once established; the easiest tulsi to grow in cold-climate gardens
Energetics: less commonly described in classical Ayurvedic texts because it sits outside the traditional O. tenuiflorum framework, but contemporary herbalists generally describe it as gentle and broadly tonic.
Comparing the Varieties
A quick reference for how the main types of tulsi differ:
| Variety | Botanical Name | Leaf Colour | Aroma | Traditional Energetics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rama | Ocimum tenuiflorum | Bright green | Sweet, clove-like | Cooling, calming |
| Krishna | Ocimum tenuiflorum | Purple-tinged | Spicy, peppery | Warming, stimulating |
| Amrita | Ocimum tenuiflorum | Green with purple highlights | Earthy, lightly spicy | Cooling, balancing |
| Vana | Ocimum gratissimum | Larger green, serrated | Strong clove (eugenol-rich) | Uplifting, digestive |
| Temperate (Kapoor) | Ocimum africanum | Smaller, light green | Tutti-frutti, fruity | Gentle, broadly tonic |
Choosing the Right Tulsi for You
For most people new to tulsi, Rama is the right place to start: widely available, gentle in flavour, and cooling and calming in the way that matches the daily-tea use case most readers have in mind. If you prefer a stronger, more medicinal cup, Krishna is worth seeking out. Amrita performs much like Rama in the cup. If you're choosing tulsi to grow rather than to drink, Temperate Tulsi (Kapoor) is the most forgiving in cool, short-season gardens; Vana usually needs greenhouse conditions outside the tropics.
For more on what tulsi can do once you have it — preparations, pairings, and traditional uses — see our guide to tulsi benefits and how to use it.
Tulsi at La Ferme À Ciel Sur Mer
We grow Rama and Amrita Tulsi at our Charlevoix farm, both as annuals from seed each spring — started indoors well before last frost, transplanted out once the soil has warmed, and harvested through the height of summer for drying. The dried leaf in our shop is grown, harvested, and processed at the farm. If you'd like to try the Rama tulsi we grow ourselves, our Organic Tulsi Rama is available in sizes from 50 g up to 1 kg.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between holy basil and tulsi?
Holy basil and tulsi are two names for the same group of plants — the term tulsi comes from Sanskrit and is used widely in India and within Ayurvedic herbalism, while holy basil is the common English translation. Both names cover the multiple species and cultivars described in this guide. For how holy basil differs from regular culinary basil, see our companion guide on holy basil vs basil.
Are all types of tulsi the same species?
No. The plants commonly called tulsi span three different species. Rama, Krishna, and Amrita are all cultivars of Ocimum tenuiflorum. Vana is a separate species, Ocimum gratissimum. Temperate Tulsi (often sold as Kapoor) is generally classified as Ocimum africanum, though its taxonomy is debated.
Is Amrita tulsi a hybrid of Krishna and Vana?
No. This is a common misconception that circulates online. Amrita is a Rama-type cultivar of Ocimum tenuiflorum, originally from Amritapuri in Kerala, southern India. North American specialist growers like Strictly Medicinal Seeds describe Amrita as similar to Rama but with more purple in the leaves and superior vigour — the same species, a closely related cultivar.
Is Kapoor tulsi the same as Rama?
No. Kapoor is widely used as a name for Temperate Tulsi, which is generally classified as Ocimum africanum — a different species from Rama, Krishna, and Amrita (all Ocimum tenuiflorum). Kapoor and Temperate Tulsi grow more easily in cool-climate gardens than the O. tenuiflorum cultivars do, but they are not Rama.
Which type of tulsi is most common?
Rama is the most widely grown and sold variety, and the type most readers encounter first. Amrita is closely related and sometimes sold under the Rama name. Krishna is well known but less commercially available. Vana and Temperate are easier to find from specialty seed suppliers than from general herb retailers.
Can I grow tulsi in a cold climate?
Yes, as an annual. None of the tulsi species reliably overwinter outdoors in cold climates like Quebec, but Rama, Amrita, and especially Temperate Tulsi (Kapoor) all grow well as annuals when started indoors before last frost and transplanted out once the soil has warmed. Vana is the most heat-demanding and usually needs greenhouse conditions outside the tropics.
Want to learn more? Check out our other guides on tulsi:
- Holy Basil vs Basil: How Tulsi and Common Basil Differ
- Tulsi Benefits and How to Use the Queen of Herbs
- Organic Tulsi Rama from our farm
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