Shiso
Perilla frutescens
Also called Perilla and Beefsteak plant
Garden plant · Herbs, veg & fruitPINCH THE FLOWER SPIKES OFF the moment they show or the leaves turn coarse and bitter within a fortnight. Done weekly it crops from June to the first frost.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Easy
- Water
- Every 3 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Feed
- Every 21 days
- Humidity
- Average to high
- Hardiness
- Half-hardy — a light frost RHS H3, to -5°C
- Size
- 0.5 m tall · 0.4 m across
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Origin
- East Asia
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsNothing recorded against it
No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-08-04. Where a source says nothing, we say nothing.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.