Overrated for ease, underrated for beauty — Basil

People describe Basil as easy and I'd push back on that slightly. harvesting regularly to prevent plants going to seed needs consistent attention and powdery mildew on basil in cool damp conditions can undermine progress quickly if ignored.

Where Basil is genuinely underrated is the beauty. attractive to bees and other pollinators when in flower is extraordinary when you see it in person. I display it in a dedicated raised herb bed near the back door and it gets comments from everyone who sees it. drying or freezing surplus growth in late summer is the time to really understand what this plant offers. Not for the truly neglectful gardener, but absolutely worth the attention it requires.