Red purple leaves with ruffled edges

Shiso (Perilla frutescens var. crispa) is an herb associated with Japanese cooking but it is originally from China. It was introduced in Japan in the 8th or 9th century. It was brought to the west in the 1850s as an ornamental plant but quickly became a nuisance thanks to its prolific self-sowing.

Shiso is known by many names including perilla, perilla mint, Chinese basil, wild basil, wild coleus, summer coleus and in the West as The Beefsteak Plant. Its many names were inspired by both its appearance and its flavor. It’s a member of the mint family so it’s no surprise that it has hints of mint in its flavor along with cumin, nutmeg and anise.

The plants look like basil plants. The leaves come in several different forms. There is a red purple leaf with a smooth edge, a green leaf with a smooth edge and a red purple leaf with a ruffled edge. There is also a bicolor, purple and green, leaf. All taste the same. In the case of the red purple varieties, the color is present on the entire plant, leaves and stems.

Shiso is only hardy in zones 10 and 11. The rest of us grow it as an annual. You can also grow it in a container and bring it indoors during the winter. The plants grow 18 to 36 inches in height. They grow best in full sun to part shade. Like most herbs, they need well-drained soil. Pinch the growing tips of the branches to make the plants bushier.

Shiso is easy to grow from seed as demonstrated by its prolific self-sowing. You can direct sow seeds after your last frost when the soil has reached a temperature of 75⁰F. Germination should occur in 2 to 3 weeks. Thin your seedlings to 12 to 15 inches apart. Start pinching the growing ends to promote bushier plants when the seedlings have reached 6 inches in height.

You can start your seeds indoors four to six weeks before your last frost. Surface sow the seeds. They need light to germinate. You can use a heat mat to achieve the ideal soil temperature of 75⁰F. Mist the soil to keep it moist rather than wet. Germination should be faster, only 7 to 14 days. Begin pinching the growing tips to promote bushier plants with the seedlings have reached 6 inches in height. You can transplant your seedlings outdoors after all danger of frost has passed. Plant your seedlings 12 to 15 inches apart.

You can pick leaves all summer from your plants. Pinch off any flowers until the end of the growing season when you want your plants to flower and set seed for next year. You can either harvest the seeds and store them until next year or just allow them to fall naturally into your garden where they will come up in the following spring. If you save the seed, use it the following spring. Shiso seed is not viable after one year.