Shiso (Perilla frutescens)

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit:	Herb/Forb
Life cycle:	Annual
Sun Requirements:	Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences:	Mesic
Soil pH Preferences:	Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5) Neutral (6.6 – 7.3) Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Plant Height:	24-36 inches
Plant Spread:	12 to 14 inches
Leaves:	Good fall color Unusual foliage color Deciduous Fragrant
Flowers:	Inconspicuous
Flower Color:	Pink Purple Other: deep burgundy
Bloom Size:	Under 1"
Flower Time:	Late summer or early fall
Uses:	Culinary Herb Medicinal Herb Will Naturalize
Edible Parts:	Leaves
Wildlife Attractant:	Bees Butterflies
Resistances:	Humidity tolerant Drought tolerant
Propagation: Seeds:	Other info: self sows to extreme suggest dead heading most plants - self pollinates
Propagation: Other methods:	Cuttings: Stem
Containers:	Suitable in 3 gallon or larger Needs excellent drainage in pots

Common names

Shiso
Chinese Basil
Beefsteak Plant
Rattlesnake Weed
Japanese Basil

Photo Gallery

Location: Savannah, Georgia, USA
Date: 2015-09-02

Uploaded by greene

Location: Beautiful Tennessee, my garden
Date: 12-18-2017

Uploaded by chickhill

Location: All pictures taken in/on my gardens/greenhouse/property
Date: 2009
'Moonlit Seas'

Uploaded by janinilulu

Location: Southern Pines, NC (Boyd House grounds)
Date: August 13, 2022
Shiso , Perilla frutescens # 306; RAB p. 925, 164-34-1; LHB p. 86

Uploaded by WebTucker

Location: B. Everett Jordan Dam/lake park Chatham county, North Carolina
Date: September 25, 2023
Shiso , Perilla frutescens # 306; RAB p. 925, 164-34-1; LHB p. 86

Uploaded by WebTucker

Uploaded by sedumzz

Location: Indiana Zone 5
Date: September

Uploaded by gardengus

Uploaded by WebTucker

Location: Savannah, Georgia, USA (my garden)
Date: 2015 Aug 9
Color of leaves varies depending on soil/sun conditions.

Uploaded by greene

Location: Southern Pines, NC (Boyd House grounds)
Date: September 18, 2022
Shiso , Perilla frutescens # 306; RAB p. 925, 164-34-1; LHB p. 86

Uploaded by WebTucker

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-02-19

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: central Illinois
Date: 9-22-11

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: B. Everett Jordan Dam/lake park Chatham county, North Carolina
Date: September 25, 2023
Shiso #306; RAB page 925, 164-34-1. AG page 407, 82-6 —?, "A Gr

Uploaded by WebTucker

Uploaded by WebTucker

Location: All pictures taken in/on my gardens/greenhouse/property
Date: 2020-02-28

Uploaded by janinilulu

Uploaded by gardengus

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-09-27

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-02-22

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by treehugger

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Date: august 2015

Uploaded by obliqua

Location: Akron, OH
Date: 2017-07-17
Looks great with just about anything green :)

Uploaded by carpathiangirl

Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials

Uploaded by Joy

Location: All pictures taken in/on my gardens/greenhouse/property
Date: 2018-03-31

Uploaded by janinilulu

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-10-22

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: In my garden NC zone 7
Date: Spring
Perilla in the garden

Uploaded by JJsgarden

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-08-15
dark leaves

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: Lucketts, Loudoun County, Virginia
Date: 2010-09-19
Spent blooms developing into seed pods

Uploaded by greenthumb99

Location: Lucketts, Loudoun County, Virginia
Date: 2010-09-19

Uploaded by greenthumb99

Location: central Illinois
Date: 8-17-07

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2013-05-08

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-09-15

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2010-09-09

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by Joy

Uploaded by Joy

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2016-09-16

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by molanic

This plant is tagged in:

Comments:

Posted by jmorth (central Illinois) on Dec 3, 2011 3:23 PM concerning plant:

Makes contrasting colors really stand out. Re-seeder, self-seeder w/ potential to become invasive. Edible leaves and seeds often incorporated into oriental dishes. (In 2009, Pepsi introduced a seasonal flavored drink called Pepsi Shiso in the Far East, Shiso being an oriental reference to Perilla). Perilla also yields a dye. Added to pickled foods where it acts as an antimicrobial agent. Rich in minerals and vitamins and has anti-inflammatory properties; used in folk medicine to battle common cold.
After bloom, plant has a significant growth spurt.
Easy to propagate by cuttings or seed.

Reply to this comment
Posted by SongofJoy (Clarksville, TN - Zone 6b) on Dec 12, 2011 1:54 PM concerning plant:

There are red and green perillas. The red perilla has red-purple leaves and an anise flavor and is less spicy than the green variety. It is used frequently in Chinese cooking in fish stews. The green perilla has a flavor somewhat like cinnamon and is more commonly used in Japanese and Korean cuisines.

Reply to this comment

Plant Events from our members
lovesblooms	On March 7, 2020	Seeds sown purple; winter sow
lovesblooms	On February 20, 2018	Seeds sown wintersown
antsinmypants	On April 15, 2023	Plant emerged Several volunteer seedlings in pots.
antsinmypants	On May 27, 2022	Transplanted Into larger container.
WebTucker	On August 15, 2022	Obtained plant

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Perilla Shiso (Perilla frutescens)

Perilla
Shiso (Perilla frutescens)