The true nature of "Perilla Magilla"

If you have already seen the blog "Perilla Magilla" vs. Perilla vs. Coleus please ignore this thread and I apologize.

I feel the true nature of the plant widely known as "Perilla Magilla" is important.

I posted the information as a blog-post in order to retain the formatting I had designed into the article, some of which doesn't work in forums. At the moment, the only reason for the blog's existance is to expose "Perilla Magilla".

If you have not read the post but would like to, please see here:

"Perilla Magilla" vs. Perilla vs. Coleus

Thank you for your attention,

Ron

I have purple Shiso all over my property.. self seeds like crazy.. nothing like coleus

I've had this plant for about 6 yrs & found the above blooms/buds when trimming stems to bring inside for winter. This is probably the latest (date in the year) this plant has been able to stay outside for summer in my yard, finally expecting frost this weekend. I suspect that has something to do with it, a short-day bloomer? It's definitely blooming. I'd put a pic in the database entry in January or Feb of this year of a puny bloom that formed inside, but these look like any other Coleus flower to me.

Yeah pretty close in blooms

Very! I don't see how it's not a Coleus, though I was firmly in the "it doesn't bloom" camp when I first got involved in "the discussion" about it. I'd had it for years, 10-30 individuals decorating the yard each summer, w/o seeing any.

Is that what you were looking for, Ron?

I still have this & it's blooming again.

I do love them .. very nice

Nice, Tiffany!

Unfortunately, word is slow to get out and it appears the plant is still widely referred to as a Perilla.

I haven't seen the plant offered for sale under any name down here for years, although that doesn't mean it hasn't been available. It used to be a standard in Lowe's and Home Depot, but now that I want to see it again, I don't find it.

TYVM!

Nobody is going to take my word for what any plant should be called, but I am 100% positive that it does bloom, and is a perennial. I've had that for around 7 yrs. (My plant list probably says, too lazy to look ATM.)

I know that feeling about shopping! :+)

OK, so I open my mouth, then there it is.

I had to pick up some PVC fittings from Lowe's today. Naturally I have to browse the plant department, and especially the clearance racks.

I saw the Iresine 'Blazin' Rose', which I really like but haven't had for several years. Large, sprawling plants in 1-gal pots, originally $4.98 but on clearance for $1.00. The plants were healthy, but no longer attractively shaped. So what? A little trimming and I'll have a nice bushy plant, plus additional plants from the cuttings. I really don't need more plants to deal with right now, but how can I pass up that deal? In looking over the selection, I saw a couple that were different. I pulled one up for a better look, and there it was: "Perilla Magilla".

Unfortunately, the plant is still being marketed as "Perilla Magilla". And it gets worse. Below the marketing name "Perilla Magilla" in italics is the proffered scientific name "Perilla 'Magilla' " as if it was scientifically the valid genus and cultivar name. And above it, in larger typeface and all caps is the new marketing name "MAGILLA SHISO"!!

Sheesh!!! Really??? Shiso, another name for Perilla.

I don't know. Maybe it'll take a lawsuit from someone eating this Coleus thinking it is Perilla and having a bad reaction to it for the nursery industry to change their naming scheme. In the meantime, I guess we can do our part to help educate those around us that this is a Coleus and not edible.