A culinary must, this herb’s shiny, cupped green foliage is prized for its strong aroma and taste in all Italian foods, fresh tomato salads and pesto. Genovese basil craves a sunny, warm garden spot and thrives in containers on a deck or a sunny kitchen windowsill. Continually pinching is very important to prevent blooming, which radically alters the taste of the plant and makes its flavor less desirable. Annual.