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Perilla frutescens |
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| | Flowers are understated, compared to the foliar fireworks |
| Common name |
shiso, beafsteak mint |
| Family |
lamiaceae |
| Life cycle |
annual |
| Flowers |
lavender (summer) |
| Size |
2' |
| Light |
sun |
| Cultural notes |
ordinary garden soil |
From seed  |
self-seeds in our garden
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| Seed ripens | early October |
Annual herb with purple foliage, spikes of lavender flowers in summer. It self-seeds abundantly in our garden, which makes for quite a display of massed plants. It's easy to pull up, though, and doesn't spread itself very far from the mother plant, so it really never becomes a nuisance.
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| | Masses of volunteer seedlings in early June make for an attractive carpet |
| 
| | By August, some culling is necessary to avoid choking out neighboring plants |
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We left this plant behind in our Pennsylvania garden (and wish it well); we don't grow it in Houston. Seed for this plant is included on my seed trade list One or more images of this plant are included in my stock photo catalog About my plant portraits
PlantLinks to other web pages about Perilla frutescens
Visitors to this page have left the following comments| Dan O'Hanlon | Sep 11, 2005 | Thanks for this beautiful picture of perilla! I finally know what that unusual colored 'weed' growing by the edge of the woods is now. Thanks again, Dan O'Hanlon |
| Charles Musgrave | Jun 01, 2006 | I have what I believe {and have been told by horticulturists in universities} that is this plant but it does not have the serrated leaves as in your picture...
Most of mine don't show quite such a pronounced serration - but they're always serrated to some extent. Other photos I've seen likewise feature the serrated leaves. |
| A R Wadoo | Sep 07, 2009 | Hello sir
I am growing this herb for the first time.It is in flowers at this time . I would love to know about the method of the seed collection . I feel it ripens and falls ,could tell me about the method of seed collection.
Thanku
ARW
Seed collection is easy - when the faded flowers turn dry and crispy, cut off the stalks, and just shake out the seeds over any container. You'll harvest more than you need! |
| Sandra Browne | Oct 07, 2012 | Your photos of perilla frutescens are the best! A friend of mine just uprooted
three plants from her garden and gave them to me -- roots and all. Should I
dig them in now? Or should I dry them and plant the seeds next April.
Perilla is an annual, so those plants will not survive winter. Instead, collect seeds (seeds may have already ripened – if not, they will soon), and start them next spring - indoors or out. |
| Babu | Jan 17, 2013 | Thanks for ur picture. is this plant used foe any medicinal purpose.
I'm not aware of any, but then that's not my focus in gardening. |
| Dawn | Sep 25, 2013 | Was wondering if u could keep this alive inside in the winter? Perilla.
Perilla is a true annual, so it will decline after flowering and setting seed. Better to collect seed and start new ones next spring - they are easy to grow that way. |
| Vicki | Sep 16, 2014 | I received this plant from a friend last year and just love it. Such a unquie shape and color and it re-seeds itself so easily. Never had such a easy plant to enjoy. Didn't know what I had until I found your site. Now I know the name of it. |
| luis | Oct 17, 2014 | I eat the leaves, cut them and put them in salads. it tastes a bit like cumin. beautiful plant as well
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| Abby | Jan 13, 2016 | The information I got is that, Perrilla Fructesen is being used for allergies and chest problems like asthma. I was looking for pics of it and not remembering that it is the plant I have been pulling out because it pushes other plants out. My daughter has asthma since birth and will benefit from this plant come spring
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