I was walking the other day and stopped to chat with a neighbor working in her yard (Pittsburgh's neighborly like that!) She showed me this plant that she had gotten from a friend who was using it as a filler where it was crowding out all other weeds and grasses. She had no idea what it is and neither do I.
It seems to be about 9" tall.

Anyone?

It looks a lot like a Perilla to me. It used to grow in my Zone 6 garden in PA, and self-seeded prolifically. Excess plants were easy to pull up, though, so I let it stay.

That was my first thought but that's a tall one.

In good soil, Perilla can grow tall. When it grew in the flowerbed I unwittingly sited on top of the septic tank's drain-field, it reached 12 inches or more.

Well, it's in a bag in the sandy soil from her friend right now.
That is where it is below knee level - about HALF knee level.
It's NOT currently blooming and she didn't mention flowers.

Hmmm.

lol. I had read that as 9'. No wonder I was confused.

Yes, Perilla.

OH!!!

Before I can be sure it's perilla, I'll have to ask her some more questions.
Perilla is not hardy here.....
MAYBE it self seeds at her friend's house.....

Perilla can self-seed.

I think we've nailed it.

Greene, I looked through the database but I missed that particular pic!
Was seeing bicolor leaves, blossoms, etc.
But THAT pic does look just like the one I've seen in person.

This plant self-seeds in my daughter's back yard. I regularly dig up young plants to share at swaps.
If you have the correct identification the leaves are edible, but some people have to get used to the taste - similar to licorice.

I also grow the large leaf Korean type (green leaves) which have a milder flavor. (Hoping to save seeds for the Piggy Swap.)

interesting!

Maybe I can pick some of hers when it fills in, and go for a more specific ID of which cultivar.

You could root a cutting.

Of course - once she gets hers IN THE GROUND!!!!
It's still in the plastic bag she brought it home in!!
With soil from where she dug it.
Wilted the day I took pics, so I shot the one she had added in a mixed container.

To clarify - is ALL perilla edible?
Because I'm pretty willing to try new things!
If you never try, you never learn!

Just to clarify from a previous discussion - some plants are called 'perilla' in their common names, but that does not mean they are edible and does not mean they are actually a perilla.

If you want to be sure, buy one original edible plant from a reputable seller (or get one from a trusted trader) and propagate more.

Yeah, that's pretty much what I thought.
I'm more interested in identifying the one in front of me and IF it's edible, going from there.

green perilla is used in japanese cuisine: it's the shiso leaf that you get as a garnish with your sushi/sashimi. it is edible, it tastes minty, but it is an aquired taste.
and there is a red one too - it is used mostly for pickles for pink color.
there are some varieties with smooth edges and others frilled like yours.
see Perilla frutescens var. crispa ‘Aka Shiso’ – Purple Beefsteak Plant or Red Shiso
http://mikesgardentop5plants.w...
and here's how to use it for traditional japanese plum pickles:
http://japanesefood.about.com/...

Thank you, Skylark.
Pretty avatar, too!

Very pretty! Many Perilla can grow to 3 feet in height.

Shiso (Perilla frutescens)