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Shiso

Perilla frutescens
Also known as: Beefsteak Plant, Japanese Basil, Korean Perilla, Chinese Basil, Tía Tô

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
Family
Lamiaceae
Category
Herb
Form
Bush
Lifecycle
annual
Zone
2-13
Height
2–3 ft
Spread
1–2 ft
Sun
Full sun to part shade

Plant spacing

1 plant per square footSquare-foot planting diagram: one shiso fills a 1-foot square, spaced 12 inches from its neighbors.
1 plant per square foot

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.

Water
Medium

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

Days to harvest
59–86 days
From transplant or sow to first harvest
Harvest style
Keep picking
Crops over several weeks
Frost tolerance
Warm-season · to ~40°F
Lowest temperature the foliage usually survives
Succession
Good for succession sowing

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

When to plant and harvest shisoPlanting timeline for shiso, relative to last frost: start indoors from 5 weeks before last frost to 1 week after last frost; grow from 1 week after last frost to 9 weeks after last frost; harvest from 9 weeks after last frost to 13 weeks after last frost.Start indoorsGrowHarvestLast frostTransplant
Start shiso indoors ~6 weeks before transplanting 1 week after last frost; first harvest 9 weeks after last frost.
Seed to transplant
28-42 days
Outdoor planting
7 to 14 days vs frost
Propagation
Seed
Schedule anchor
Last Frost

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.

    Source: UC IPM; UMN Extension

  • 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.

    Source: UC IPM

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.

    Source: UMN Extension; Missouri Botanical Garden

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.

    Source: UMN Extension

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.

    Source: UMN Extension

Clean up debris and sanitize at season end

Sanitation

Unusual 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.

    Source: UMN Extension; Cornell

  • 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.

    Source: Cornell; UMN Extension

Harden off seedlings

Protection

Unusual this time of year.

Read: starting seeds indoors

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

Symptoms: leaves skeletonized between veins; lacy chewed foliage; metallic green-bronze beetles clustered on plants; feeding worst in warm midsummer sun

Powdery mildew

Diseasemoderate

Symptoms: white powdery coating on upper leaf surfaces; starts as spots then spreads; leaves yellow and dry under the coating

  • 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.

    Source: UC IPM

  • 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.

    Always follow the product label — it is the law.

    Source: UC IPM

Root rot from overwatering / poor drainage

Diseasemoderate

Symptoms: stunted yellowing plants that wilt despite wet soil; soft brown mushy roots; sloughing root outer layer leaving thread-like core; poor growth in low or compacted wet spots; seedlings collapsing at the soil line

Slugs & snails

Pestmoderate

Symptoms: large ragged holes with smooth edges; slimy silvery trails; damage worst after rain and overnight

  • 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.

    Source: UC IPM: Snails and Slugs

  • 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.

    Always follow the product label — it is the law.

    Source: UC IPM

Spider mites

Pestmoderate

Symptoms: fine pale stippling/speckling on leaves; fine webbing on undersides in hot dry spells; leaves bronzing and dropping

  • 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.

    Source: UC IPM

  • 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.

    Always follow the product label — it is the law.

    Source: UC IPM

Whiteflies

Pestmoderate

Symptoms: clouds of tiny white insects fly up when plants are disturbed; yellowing stippled leaves; sticky honeydew and black sooty mold; weak stunted growth

  • 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.

    Source: UC IPM: Whiteflies

  • 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.

    Always follow the product label — it is the law.

    Source: UC IPM: Whiteflies

Aphids

Pestlow

Symptoms: clusters of tiny soft-bodied insects on new growth and undersides; sticky honeydew or sooty mold; curled distorted new leaves; ants tending them

  • 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.

    Source: UC IPM: Aphids

  • 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.

    Always follow the product label — it is the law.

    Source: UC IPM