In warm climates it can last 2 or even 3 years. Here is SA we grow is as an annual. It's quite easy to grow from seed you collect yourself each year.

g'day hedwig,

if you don't get real heavy frost it will go for a couple of years or so, last year in gympie with very mild winter very light frost ours just kept on keeping on hey?

len

Here is a link that might be useful: lens garden page

thanks! It grows really nice and I found it even more easy to grow than the european basils (like most of the asian veggies which seems to be more adapted to the Brisbane climate)