Beefsteak Plant (Perilla frutescens var. frutescens)

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit:	Herb/Forb
Life cycle:	Annual
Sun Requirements:	Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences:	Mesic Dry Mesic
Soil pH Preferences:	Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5) Neutral (6.6 – 7.3) Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Plant Height:	12 to 36 inches
Plant Spread:	12 to 18 inches
Leaves:	Deciduous Fragrant Other: Large, bright green upper with purple reverse
Flowers:	Inconspicuous
Flower Color:	White
Bloom Size:	Under 1"
Flower Time:	Late summer or early fall
Uses:	Vegetable Will Naturalize
Edible Parts:	Leaves Seeds or Nuts Flowers
Eating Methods:	Culinary Herb/Spice Raw Cooked
Wildlife Attractant:	Bees Butterflies
Resistances:	Deer Resistant Humidity tolerant Drought tolerant
Propagation: Other methods:	Cuttings: Stem
Containers:	Suitable in 3 gallon or larger Needs excellent drainage in pots

Common names

Photo Gallery

Comments:

Posted by Onewish1 (NJ - Zone 6a) on Jul 30, 2012 3:43 AM concerning plant:

these have seeded all over my yard .. cracks in the driveway.. easy to pull where not wanted though.. this one was growing in a container with a board covering 1/2 of it .. grew under and out the sides.. took the top off and it took off.. that is not even planted in the ground now.. I popped it out of the container this past spring and it's just sitting on top of the grass.. very hardy plant.. get rid of the flowers if you don't want reseeding

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Posted by SCButtercup (Simpsonville SC - Zone 7b) on Aug 1, 2012 4:02 AM concerning plant:

The perilla growing in my garden now is from seedlings I found growing in my lawn, gift from the birds. Transplanted to a bed and it took off and reseeded. But spreading is not a problem since its home is a dry area under the eaves. Next to it is chocolate mint, which also stays in check because of the dryness.

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Posted by SongofJoy (Clarksville, TN - Zone 6b) on Dec 4, 2011 4:16 PM concerning plant:

This is an ornamental plant and an edible herb.

The seed of perilla frutescens contain about 35-35% oil, and one of the highest proportions of omega-3 (ALA) fatty acids of any seed oil, at 54-64% and only 14% linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid. This unusual n6:n3 ratio gives this crop potential for an alternative to other seed oils. (Wikipedia)

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Perilla Beefsteak Plant (Perilla frutescens var. frutescens)