Perilla frutescens
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- per-IL-lah froo-TESS-enz
- Description
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An annual native to the Himalayas and Southeast Asia. It is used as a decorative plant, salad herb, and flavoring in many south and east Asian cuisines; often, the more fragrant var. crispa called Shiso is used instead. Genus name comes from the Latin word pera meaning bag or wallet in reference to the fruiting calyx. Specific epithet means shrubby or bushy.
Full sun; grows best in rich, moist soil; very resistant to heat and drought; pinch ends to promote bushiness; grow in mass plantings in beds or borders or in containers; self-seeds prolifically may become weedy
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Poolside Garden Round Garden Bed Four-Season Garden Woodland Walk
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Purple Shiso'
Purple leaves - var. crispa
Shiso; more deeply toothed leaves and different flavor
- 'Purple Shiso'
- 'Purple Shiso', var. crispa
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Purple Shiso'
Purple leaves - var. crispa
Shiso; more deeply toothed leaves and different flavor
- 'Purple Shiso'
- 'Purple Shiso', var. crispa
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Perilla
- Species:
- frutescens
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Himalayas to Southeast Asia
- Edibility:
- Leaves as a salad herb, flavoring
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Edible
- Herb
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Flower Description:
- Two-lipped, nettle-like white flowers in spike-like inflorescences up to 4" tall
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Wrinkled leaves up to 4" long. Purple leaves resemble the color of uncooked beef. Edible and aromatic.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heat
- Problems:
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
