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*Perilla frutescens (Linnaeus) Britton. Common name: Perilla, Beefsteak-plant, Shiso. Phenology: Aug-Oct; Oct-Dec. Habitat: Moist disturbed areas. Distribution: Native of India.

Origin/Endemic status: E. and se. Asia

Taxonomy Comments: Var. crispa (Bentham) Deane (leaves purple above and below; leaf margins laciniate-dentate and also crisped) and var. frutescens (leaves purple below; leaf margins dentate, not crisped) are sometimes recognized; these appear to be recently-derived cultivars rather than taxonomically distinct entities.

Synonymy : = Ar, C, Fl6, G, GrPl, K4, Mi, Mo3, Pa, RAB, S, Tn, Tx, W, WH3; = Perilla fructescens — NcTx, orthographic variant; > Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton var. crispa (Benth.) W.Deane — F, Il, NE, NY, Tat, WV; > Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton var. frutescens — F, Il, NE, NY, WV; Ocimum frutescens Linnaeus — (basionym)

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
  • Great Plains: FAC
  • Midwest: FAC
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FAC

Heliophily : 5

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image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Sonnia Hill | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect colony-forming annual of moist disturbed areas. Native of India.

Stems: Stems stout, 4-angled and grooved, branched, sometimes purple-tinged, smooth or covered with downward-pointing hairs.

Leaves: Leaves opposite, petiolate, broadly oval with pointed tips, to 5 in. long, wrinkled, coarsely toothed, green to purplish-burgundy and aromatic.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers in long (to 6 in.) terminal and upper axillary racemes; pink to pale purple; to 1/4 in. long; bilaterally symmetric; tubular, the corolla opening to a notched upper lip, notched lower lip, and 2 lateral lobes. The dark green-burgundy, densely hairy, toothed, tubular calyx is nearly as long as the corolla, and there are 4 pink-tipped stamens.

Fruits:

Comments: This invasive annual spreads easily; pulling before flowering/seed set is effective.

Height: 1-3 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect colony-forming annual of moist disturbed areas. Native of India.

stems: Stems stout, 4-angled and grooved, branched, sometimes purple-tinged, smooth or covered with downward-pointing hairs.

leaves: Leaves opposite, petiolate, broadly oval with pointed tips, to 5 in. long, wrinkled, coarsely toothed, green to purplish-burgundy and aromatic.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers in long (to 6 in.) terminal and upper axillary racemes; pink to pale purple; to 1/4 in. long; bilaterally symmetric; tubular, the corolla opening to a notched upper lip, notched lower lip, and 2 lateral lobes. The dark green-burgundy, densely hairy, toothed, tubular calyx is nearly as long as the corolla, and there are 4 pink-tipped stamens.

fruits:

comments: This invasive annual spreads easily; pulling before flowering/seed set is effective.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: India