Shisho - Perilla frutescens var. purpurascens -  €3 per plant

A wonderful edible self seeding annual that brings both excellent aroma and colour to the garden. Shisho is an important herb in Chinese medicine and is used broadly in eastern Asian cuisine. The leaves have a strong unique flavour that perk up a salad and can be used to make wonderful teas. The flowers are attractive to bees and are produced abundantly in late summer. To order this plant please contact us balkanecologyproject@gmail.com.  

Context

  • native region:E. Asia - China, Japan, India.
  • native habitat: Hills and mountains of central and southern Japan. Sunny and fertile situations in China.
  • family: Lamiaceae or Labiatae

Predators and Pests

  • None known or experienced 

Needs, tolerances 

  • Light: Full sun to dappled shade 
  • soil pH:  Acid, neutral -basic alkaline 
  • Hardiness Zone: 6
  • Prefers well drained soil 
  • Easy to grow with plenty of sun.

Known hazards 

  • Perilla is ordinarily avoided by cattle but has been implicated in cattle poisoning. Plants are most toxic if cut and dried for hay late in the summer, during seed production. Perilla ketone causes pulmonary edema (fluid in the lung cavity) in many animal species, although not in pigs or dogs.

Overview

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  • ANNUAL growing to 0.8m by 0.6m. 
  • It is in flower from July to August.
  • The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs)
  • Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil.
  • Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils.
  • It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Characteristics

  • form: Hardy annual 
  • layer : Herb Layer
  • habit: erect and bushy 
  • height x width (m): 0.8 x 0.6
  • years to bearing yield: 0 years  

Products 

  • Leaf: Fresh leaves are excellent in stir fry and tempura. used to make tea. Leaves are also used as natural dye
  • Seed: The seed oil is used for cooking, as a drying oil, and as a fuel. The seeds are eaten by people and used as bird seed
  • Medicinal:The leaves are used in the treatment of colds, chest stuffiness, vomiting and abdominal pain. The juice of the leaves is applied to cuts and wounds

Functions, behaviours

  • Self seeds freely growing in the gaps of paving
  • Plants raised from seed show much variation in size and leaf shape
  • It stands 15 cm tall for most of the summer. In August, it blooms and its stem elongates rapidly. The plant reaches a height of approximately 1 m before being killed by frost.
If you would like this plant please send an email to balkanecologyproject@gmail.com with your order. 
Balkan Ecology Project