Beefsteak Plant
Perilla frutescens
Also listed as Ocimum frutescens, Perilla ocymoides
Also known as Shiso, Korean Perilla, Beefsteak Mint
Climate Match for your location
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A tender perennial with striking deep purple or burgundy foliage and compact form, grown primarily for ornamental leaves rather than flowers. Often treated as an annual in cooler climates and valued in container gardens and borders for dramatic color contrast.
Why grow it
Perilla frutescens offers deeper, more stable foliage color than many annual ornamental-leaf plants, maintaining its burgundy tones throughout the season without fading to green as some colored-foliage annuals do. It reaches a compact, mounded form naturally without pinching, making it useful for container work or as a defined accent in borders. Where hardy (USDA zones 10-11), it can function as a tender perennial, though most growers in cooler regions treat it as an annual for reliable performance.
Watch out for
Perilla self-seeds readily in warm conditions, so deadheading or removing spent plants before seed maturation is recommended if you want to prevent volunteer seedlings the following season. In mild climates with consistent moisture, the plant may become leggy or lose its compact form by midsummer; trimming in early summer promotes bushier growth and maintains ornamental quality through fall.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Lamiaceae
Native Range
Eastern Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A tender perennial with striking deep purple or burgundy foliage and compact form, grown primarily for ornamental leaves rather than flowers. Often treated as an annual in cooler climates and valued in container gardens and borders for dramatic color contrast.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Beefsteak Plant grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Perilla frutescens offers deeper, more stable foliage color than many annual ornamental-leaf plants, maintaining its burgundy tones throughout the season without fading to green as some colored-foliage annuals do. It reaches a compact, mounded form naturally without pinching, making it useful for container work or as a defined accent in borders. Where hardy (USDA zones 10-11), it can function as a tender perennial, though most growers in cooler regions treat it as an annual for reliable performance.
Watch out for
Perilla self-seeds readily in warm conditions, so deadheading or removing spent plants before seed maturation is recommended if you want to prevent volunteer seedlings the following season. In mild climates with consistent moisture, the plant may become leggy or lose its compact form by midsummer; trimming in early summer promotes bushier growth and maintains ornamental quality through fall.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Lamiaceae
Native Range
Eastern Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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