Shiso
Shiso is a herb in the Lamiaceae family. It grows best in full sun to part shade with medium moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 2-13. Plants reach harvest about 59–86 days after planting and sit about 12 inches apart.
Varieties
9 from True Leaf Market & Seeds Now · sorted by days to maturity▸Jeok Ssam Ip59–81 days
Heirloom; Container; Annual
70 days to maturity. Perilla frutescens. Annual. Jeok Ssam Ip is a Korean perilla variety grown for its purple-backed leaves. Its leaves pack a big punch of flavor, with a minty, bright taste and hints of citrus and coriander. A longtime favorite herb in Asian cooking, the leaves are often used fresh to wrap rice and grilled meats.
View on True Leaf Market ↗▸Korean59–81 days
Heirloom / Open Pollinated; Annual; Good choice for container growing; Non-GMO seeds
70 days to maturity. Perilla frutescens var. frutescens. Korean Shiso Herb Seeds (Perilla). Warm season annual. Perilla is a lovely Korean herb that is a vivid green on the top and a soft purple on the underside of the leaves. Both the flowers and the leaves are edible and delicious. Widely used in various types of Asian cooking, perilla has a fresh flavor that has hints of basil, citrus, and mint. This annual herb is beautiful, tasty, and all-around a versatile choice. You can even grow it as a microgreen! ~ 23,300 seeds / oz.
View on True Leaf Market ↗▸Green60–70 days
Heirloom / Open Pollinated; Annual; Good choice for container growing; Non-GMO seeds
Non-GMO, Heirloom Green Shiso Perilla Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. Perilla frutescens var. crispa. Green Shiso is a warm annual and beefsteak variety. Green Shiso, also known as "Perilla Mint" or "Kkaenip" develops glossy leaves similar to basil. As a culinary herb often used in Asian cuisine, Green Shiso Perilla provides a diverse range of cooking options! This type of shiso provides more citrusy and minty flavor with hints of clove and anise in comparison to its purple shiso relative.
View on True Leaf Market ↗▸Green Ohba60–70 days
Heirloom / Open Pollinated; Annual; Good choice for container growing; Non-GMO seeds
60 to 70 days to maturity. Perilla frutescens var crispa. Shiso Herb Seeds (Perilla) - Green Ohba Shiso Seeds. Warm season annual. Shiso, also known as perilla or beefsteak leaf, is an herb often used in traditional Japanese cooking. This Ohba variety has broad, flat leaves and lacks the red undersides that some other shiso varieties have. It is nutritious and often used in Eastern medicine. Full of bright flavor and incredibly versatile, Green Ohba is a great addition to your vegetable or herb garden! ~ 16,800 seeds / oz.
View on True Leaf Market ↗▸Bicolor (Organic)64–86 days
Heirloom; Annual
75 Days to maturity. Perilla frutescens. Organic Bicolor Shiso Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, organic, open-pollinated, heirloom. Suitable for growing in fields, containers, garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Bicolor Shiso features striking green leaves with purple undersides, delivering a refined mint-basil flavor with gentle, spicy undertones—perfect for stunning garnishes or brightening up Asian dishes. This organic, visually captivating herb brings both beauty and culinary elegance to your garden or kitchen. ~10,900 seeds/oz.
View on True Leaf Market ↗▸Purple (Red)70–80 days
Heirloom; Container; Annual
Non-GMO, Heirloom Purple Shiso Perilla Herb Garden Seed from True Leaf Market. AKA: Red Shiso. Perilla frutescens var. crispa. Purple Shiso is a warm annual native to India and China. As a beefsteak plant, Purple Shiso, also known as "Perilla Mint" develops wine-colored leaves similar to basil, reaching up to 3" tall. As a well-known sushi garnish and culinary herb often used in Asian cuisine, Purple Shiso Perilla provides a diverse range of sweet, savory and citrusy flavors!
View on True Leaf Market ↗▸Green (Perilla Leaf, Japanese Basil)80–85 days
Can tolerate hot temperatures; Direct sow; Grows well in full sun; Grows well with containers; Grows well with raised beds; Matures in <90 days; Start indoors; Super easy to grow
Green Shiso (Perilla frutescens), also called Perilla Leaf and Japanese Basil, is an herb in the mint family with large, bright green, wrinkled, serrated leaves. It is not as spicy as Red Shiso. Used extensively in Japanese cuisine, it has a fresh minty-basil flavor with notes of clove and cumin and a bitter, astringent finish. It pairs well with fish, rice, noodles, and vegetables, especially cucumbers.
View on Seeds Now ↗▸Red (Organic)80–85 days
Heirloom; Organic; Container; Annual
80-85 Days to maturity. Perilla frutescens. Red Shiso Herb Seeds. Non-GMO, organic, annual. Shiso is grown as an annual herb with a distinct flavor often described by people as similar to coriander, mint, basil, or cinnamon. May be grown as a perennial in zones 10-11. It is commonly used in Japanese and other Asian diets. It has many culinary, ornamental, and medicinal properties, which make this useful plant a favorite among all who tend it. ~25,000 seeds/oz.
View on True Leaf Market ↗▸Red (Perilla Leaf, Japanese Basil)80–85 days
Can tolerate hot temperatures; Direct sow; Grows well in full sun; Grows well with containers; Grows well with raised beds; Matures in <90 days; Start indoors; Super easy to grow
Red Shiso (Perilla frutescens), also called Perilla Leaf and Japanese Basil, is an herb in the mint family with large, deep purple, wrinkled, serrated leaves. Much stronger and spicier than Green Shiso, the crunchy leaves are used mainly in salads, for pickling, and as a natural food coloring. Used extensively in Japanese cuisine, it has a fresh minty-basil flavor with notes of clove and cumin and a bitter, astringent finish.
View on Seeds Now ↗
Plant spacing
In a square-foot bed, space shiso about 12 in apart — that fits 1 plant in each 1-foot square (1×1). Wider rows or containers space the same.
Plan your shiso planting
Add shiso to a free GardenDraft plan and get sow, transplant, and harvest dates computed for your ZIP code — with a drag-and-drop bed layout and reminders when it’s time to plant.
Start your free plan →At a glance
Storing & preserving
Refrigerate stems in water, or wrap in a damp towel for a few days.
- Dry: Dehydrate or air-dry, then store airtight away from light.
- Freeze: Freeze chopped in oil or water in ice-cube trays.
General home-preservation guidance — for tested processing times and safety, follow the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Growing timeline
Care & troubleshooting— extension-sourced, with citations
When to feed, prune & water
Attract beneficial insects and protect pollinators
Protection- Routine carePlant insectary flowers and tolerate light pestsstrong evidence — extension confidence
Grow a diversity of flowering plants (including small-flowered umbels and asters) to feed predators and parasitoids, and tolerate low pest numbers so natural enemies have prey to stick around.
- Routine careNever spray open bloomsstrong evidence — extension confidence
Avoid insecticides on flowering plants and apply any needed sprays in the evening when pollinators aren't active, and favor selective products over broad-spectrum ones to spare bees and beneficials.
Mulch to suppress weeds and retain moisture
Mulch- Routine careApply organic mulch around plantsstrong evidence — extension confidence
Spread a few inches of straw, shredded leaves, or compost around established plants (keeping it off stems) to hold soil moisture, suppress weeds, and moderate soil temperature; wait until soil has warmed for heat-loving crops.
Pinch leafy herbs to stay productive
Pruning- Routine carePinch tips and flower buds weekly· every 1 wk · ~10 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence
Pinch the growing tips above a leaf pair and remove flower buds as they form. This keeps basil bushy and leafy instead of bolting to seed.
Trim and divide perennial herbs
Pruning- Routine careShear after growth flushes; divide every few yearsmoderate evidence — extension confidence
Shear perennial herbs like mint, oregano, thyme and sage after flushes of growth to keep them compact and productive, and divide crowded clumps in spring or fall to renew vigor and airflow. Go easy on fertilizer — lean conditions give stronger flavor.
Clean up debris and sanitize at season end
SanitationUnusual this time of year.
- Routine careRemove spent plants and fallen debrisstrong evidence — extension confidence
Pull and clear old plants, dropped fruit, and leaf litter at season end, since many pests and diseases overwinter in this debris; dispose of diseased material rather than composting it.
- Routine careClean tools, stakes, and cagesmoderate evidence — extension confidence
Wash and sanitize stakes, cages, and tools that touched diseased plants before storing or reusing them to avoid carrying pathogens into next season.
Harden off seedlings
ProtectionUnusual this time of year.
- Routine careGradually expose plants to the outdoors· every 1 days · ~2 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence
Starting about two weeks before transplanting, set seedlings outside in a sheltered, shady spot for a few hours and lengthen their time and sun exposure each day, avoiding windy days, to prevent transplant shock.
- Routine careEase back on water and transplant on a mild daystrong evidence — extension confidence
Water a little less during hardening (without letting plants wilt) to toughen growth, then transplant in late afternoon or on a cool, cloudy, calm day.
Something looks wrong?
Describe what you see on your shisoand we'll rank the likely causes — most likely first, least-invasive fix first.
Japanese beetles
Pestmoderate- CulturalHandpick into soapy water· every 1 days · ~4 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence
In early morning when beetles are sluggish, knock them into a bucket of soapy water; daily removal also reduces the scent that draws in more beetles. Skip the lure traps, which tend to attract more beetles than they catch.
- CulturalCover plants past bloommoderate evidence — extension confidence
On crops that have finished flowering and set fruit, drape a row cover or netting to keep beetles off without blocking pollination during bloom.
Powdery mildew
Diseasemoderate- CulturalImprove airflow + remove worst leavesstrong evidence — extension confidence
Cut out the most heavily coated leaves and thin for airflow; avoid wetting foliage late in the day.
- OrganicPotassium-bicarbonate or sulfur - label use only· every 1 wk · ~4 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence
Apply a labeled potassium-bicarbonate or sulfur fungicide weekly per the label. No sulfur within 2 weeks of oil or in high heat.
Root rot from overwatering / poor drainage
Diseasemoderate- CulturalLet soil drain and water lessstrong evidence — extension confidence
Water root rots like Pythium thrive in saturated soil, so cut back watering, let the surface dry between irrigations, and water at the base rather than keeping soil constantly wet.
- CulturalImprove drainage and aerationstrong evidence — extension confidence
Use raised beds, loosen compacted soil, and add organic matter to improve drainage; remove plants that are already rotted since affected roots won't recover.
Slugs & snails
Pestmoderate- CulturalTrap, hand-pick at night, reduce cover· every 2 days · ~3 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence
Pick at night with a flashlight, set shallow beer traps, water in the morning so soil dries by dusk, and clear damp hiding spots.
- OrganicIron-phosphate bait - label use only· every 1 wk · ~3 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence
Scatter a labeled iron-phosphate slug bait sparingly per the label; it's pet- and wildlife-safer than metaldehyde.
Spider mites
Pestmoderate- CulturalHose down and raise humidity· every 3 days · ~2 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence
Mites thrive in hot, dry, dusty conditions. Spray foliage (especially undersides) with water to dislodge them and reduce dust.
- OrganicInsecticidal soap or horticultural oil - label use only· every 5 days · ~2 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence
Apply to undersides per label; mites resist many products, so soaps/oils are preferred. Not in extreme heat.
Whiteflies
Pestmoderate- CulturalRemove infested leaves and hose off· every 4 daysmoderate evidence — extension confidence
Pick off and discard heavily infested lower leaves and rinse colonies off undersides with a strong spray of water; yellow sticky cards help monitor numbers.
- OrganicApply a labeled soap or oil· every 1 wk · ~3 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence
Apply a labeled insecticidal soap or neem oil per the label, covering leaf undersides; these reduce but won't eliminate whiteflies, so repeat as needed.
Aphids
Pestlow- CulturalBlast off with water· every 3 days · ~2 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence
Knock colonies off with a strong jet of water in the morning; repeat every few days. Light infestations rarely need more.
- OrganicInsecticidal soap - label use only· every 1 wk · ~3 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence
For persistent colonies apply insecticidal soap to undersides per label. Avoid open flowers.