Beefsteak Plant
📚 Perilla frutescens
Family: Lamiaceae
🍽 Edible 💊 Medicinal ⚠ Invasive Species 🐝 Pollinator 🦌 Deer Resistant
Any
Sunlight
Moderate
Water Needs
Fast
Growth Rate
3.00'
Height
21
Views
⚠️
This profile is AI-generated and for informational purposes only. Do not consume, handle, or use any plant for medical purposes based on this information alone. Always verify with a qualified expert. Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222. Full Disclaimer →
About
Safety & Benefits
Care & Growing
Harvest
Ecology
Family & Sources
🌿 About
Beefsteak Plant, also known as Perilla or Shiso, is a striking annual herb with deep purple or green ruffled leaves. It is a staple in Asian cuisine and adds a unique flavor to salads, sushi, and pickles. Its bold foliage makes it a popular ornamental in gardens.
📍 Native to: East Asia (China, Japan, Korea, India)
✅ Harmful or Beneficial
✓ Edible Parts ✓ Medicinal Uses 🐝 Good for Pollinators 🦌 Deer Resistant ⚠ Invasive Species ✓ Safe for Humans 🐾 Toxic to Pets
Provides a continuous harvest of flavorful leaves throughout the growing season. Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects, enhancing garden biodiversity. Its fast growth and self-seeding habit make it a low-maintenance addition to edible landscapes.
🍽 Edible parts: leaves, seeds, sprouts
⚠️ If a pet or livestock shows signs of respiratory distress, weakness, or collapse after ingesting Perilla frutescens, seek immediate veterinary care; for humans, contact poison control if large amounts of raw seeds or leaves are consumed.
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🌱 Care & Growing Conditions
🪨 Soil: well-drained, fertile loam
Full sun to partial shade; keep soil consistently moist but well-drained; rich, loamy soil; prefers 60-80°F (15-27°C)
✂️ Propagation
Easily grown from seed sown directly in spring after last frost; self-seeds readily in suitable climates.
🌾 Harvest Information
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Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators; can become weedy and invasive in disturbed areas.
🤝 Companion plants: Tomato, Basil, Pepper, Eggplant, Marigold
🔬 Botanical Family: Lamiaceae
Other plants in this family you might recognize:
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