The information on this page applies to seedlings sold by LEAF Nursery during our 2021 Seedling Sale.
Perilla frutescens. An absolute must for herb gardens! Also called Japanese basil or beefsteak plant, shiso's incredible flavor can be described as a combination of cinnamon, mint, and clove with overtones of cumin. Green shiso is a nice plant for all types of uses like shredded, onigiri wrap, extra seasoning with tofu or cold noodles, salads, pretty dividers in bentos, and more. They also make a very delicious pesto. Red shiso is used for making umeboshi pickled plums and other types of pickles. One cannot eat them raw as they are very bitter. So, they need to be blanched or salted. Also, red shiso is great to plant alongside green shiso as they look pretty together. A beautiful, heat- and drought-tolerant bedding plant that attracts pollinators, and is excellent for containers. Usually grown as a frost-sensitive annual; shiso is a perennial in USDA zones 10 and warmer.[1] [3]
Seed Type
| Organic | Heirloom | Non-GMO | Hybrid | Open-pollinated | Untreated |
Additional Information
| Container Friendly | Trellis Needed | Easy to Grow | Pollinator Friendly |
Planting Season
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Growing Conditions
| Light | Temperature | Soil | Water |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Sun | fertile, well-drained soil | As needed; avoid overwatering |
Planting Tips
| Plant Spacing | Plant Size | Days to Maturity |
|---|---|---|
| 12" | 18" tall |
- Additional instructions: Shiso roots spread via rhizomes; be careful that shiso roots do not impede the growth of other herbs.[4]
- Harvesting instructions: Once transplants have become established, grow as you would basil — pinch growing tips regularly to produce bushier plants with more leaves. Harvest leaves any time after plant is a few inches tall, but before it flowers. Once plant flowers, the leaves drop.[1] [2]
Common Diseases and Pests
- Pests: snails
- Disease:
Useful Resources
- https://www.botanicalinterests.com/product/Green-and-Red-Perilla-Shiso-Seeds (seed source)
- https://www.westcoastseeds.com/blogs/how-to-grow/how-to-grow-shiso
- https://purevege.com/how-to-grow-shiso/
- https://harvesttotable.com/how-to-grow-shiso/
If you bought this seedling and have any questions or feedback, let us know in the comment section below.