Flower Specifications
- Season: Annual
- USDA Zones: 3 - 11
- Height: 36 inches
- Bloom Season: Mid summer to early fall
- Bloom Color: Pink to white
- Environment: Full sun
- Soil Type: Light to medium moist well-drained and rich soil, pH 6.1 - 7.8
Planting Directions
- Temperature: 70F
- Average Germ Time: 15 - 30 days
- Light Required: Yes
- Depth: 1/8th - 1/4 inch deep
- Sowing Rate: 3 - 4 seeds per plant
- Moisture: Keep seeds moist until germination
- Plant Spacing: 18 - 24 inches
- Care & Maintenance: See: Perilla
Beefsteak Plant (Perilla Frutescens) - This must-have for the herb garden is an annual that goes by many different common names including: Ao Shiso, Beefsteak Plant, Ji Soo, Purple Perilla, Shiso, Wild Basil, Wild Red Basil, Chinese Basil, Purple Mint, Rattlesnake Week and Summer Coleus. There may be more names! Perilla will grow as a perennial in regions that are frost-free.
This ornamental herb is very attractive with deep purple stems that are square and purple to red tinted leaves. It is a bushy plant and can reach 36 inches in height. Grow Perilla in full sun and in rich, moist, and well-drained soil. The Perilla herb plant is highly aromatic with a minty scent, and it is very attractive to butterflies. In humid climates, the herb plants grow very quickly, and to maintain a neat appearance, pinch the tops off.
As a culinary herb, Perilla is a sweet-spicy flavoring that is widely used in oriental cuisine such as stir fries, raw fish, vegetable dishes, rice and soups. The red color of the Perilla leaves is used to color and pickle fruits and vegetables. The Perilla seeds are used to make nutritious cooking oil as well. Many vitamins and minerals are found in this herb plant, and it is 2000 times as sweet as sugar.
Start the seeds indoors 4 - 6 weeks before the end of frost season is expected. Transplant the Perilla plants outside once temperatures are consistently warm. Give the herb plants some protection, such as a cloche, until they are growing well.
