Heirloom

Britton

Perilla frutescens

Wikimedia Commons

Good salad mix item, or use larger leaves as sushi wraps or garnishes. Larger leaf and plant than our 'Red' and 'Green' shiso. Mild mint/basil aroma. Also good for ornamental use. Leaves show best color contrast when grown in temperatures below 85°F (29°C). Also known as perilla. Edible Flowers:The flowers are a flavorful addition to salads and Asian dishes. Pairs well with fish, rice, noodles, and cucumbers. The minty, basil-like flavor has hints of clove and cumin.

Harvest

80-85d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

10–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

1-3 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Harvest

Start Indoors

Transplant

Harvest

Showing dates for Britton in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 herb →

Zone Map

Click a state to update dates

Britton · Zones 10–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-18 inches

SoilWell-drained soil

WaterRegular

SeasonWarm season annual

FlavorMild mint and basil aroma with subtle hints of clove and cumin.

ColorGreen with purple undertones

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 11	January – January	January – March	—	March – December
Zone 3	April – May	June – July	—	July – October
Zone 4	March – April	June – July	—	July – October
Zone 5	March – April	May – June	—	June – October
Zone 6	March – April	May – June	—	June – November
Zone 7	February – March	April – June	—	June – November
Zone 8	February – March	April – May	—	May – December
Zone 9	January – February	March – April	—	April – December
Zone 10	January – January	February – April	—	April – December

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: High Organic Matter. Drainage: Good Drainage, Occasionally Wet. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 3 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Britton reaches harvest at 80 - 85 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

.06 inch reticulate nutlet gray-brown

Color: Brown/Copper, Gray/Silver. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.

Edibility: Leaves as a salad herb, flavoring

Storage & Preservation

Britton leaves are best used fresh but store briefly in a sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator at 35–40°F, where they'll keep for 3–5 days before losing flavor and texture. For longer preservation, freezing works well: blanch leaves for 2 minutes, shock in ice water, pat dry, then freeze flat on trays before transferring to freezer bags for up to three months. Drying is equally effective—hang bundles in a warm, well-ventilated space or use a dehydrator at 95–105°F until leaves crumble easily. Store dried leaves in airtight containers away from light. Fermentation of the leaves produces a traditional condiment similar to umeboshi, capturing the herb's distinctive aromatic compounds. Perilla seeds can be dried and stored in cool, dry conditions for future planting.

History & Origin

Britton is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Himalayas to Southeast Asia

Advantages

+Larger leaves ideal for sushi wraps and creative culinary presentations
+Mild mint-basil flavor with clove-cumin notes pairs excellently with Asian cuisine
+Easy 80-85 day growth cycle suitable for beginner gardeners
+Edible flowers add visual and flavor appeal to salads and dishes
+Attractive ornamental value with striking leaf color contrast

Considerations

-Requires cooler temperatures below 85°F for optimal leaf color development
-Larger plant size demands more garden space than compact herb varieties
-Can self-seed aggressively if flowers aren't harvested before maturation

Companion Plants

Tomatoes and peppers are the most useful neighbors for Britton — the plant's strong anise-like scent appears to disorient aphids and thrips that would otherwise target those crops, and all three share the same warm-season timing without competing at the root level. Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) add another layer of insect disruption nearby, and lettuce benefits practically from the shade Perilla casts once it hits 2-3 feet. Rue, sage, and thyme are the ones to skip — all three are drought-adapted Mediterranean plants that want soil kept on the dry side, while Perilla needs regular moisture; push them together and you'll either drown the sage or stress the Perilla, neither of which ends well.

Plant Together

Tomatoes

Basil repels tomato hornworms and aphids, may improve tomato flavor

Peppers

Basil deters aphids and spider mites that commonly affect peppers

Oregano

Both herbs have similar growing requirements and repel common garden pests

Lettuce

Basil provides light shade for lettuce and repels aphids that damage leafy greens

Asparagus

Basil repels asparagus beetles and doesn't compete for root space

Marigolds

Both plants repel aphids and whiteflies, creating a stronger pest deterrent

Parsley

Similar water and nutrient needs, basil helps repel pests that affect parsley

Carrots

Basil improves soil health and repels carrot flies without root competition

Keep Apart

Rue

Allelopathic properties inhibit basil growth and development

Sage

Competes for similar nutrients and may stunt basil growth

Thyme

Can inhibit basil germination and early growth through allelopathy

Nutrition Facts

Calories

23kcal(1%)

Protein

3.15g(6%)

Fiber

1.6g(6%)

Carbs

2.65g(1%)

Fat

0.64g(1%)

Vitamin C

18mg(20%)

Vitamin A

264mcg(29%)

Vitamin K

415mcg(346%)

Iron

3.17mg(18%)

Calcium

177mg(14%)

Potassium

295mg(6%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #172232)

Troubleshooting Britton

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Seedlings are leggy and pale, flopping over by day 14-20 after germination

Likely Causes

Insufficient light — Perilla grown in under 4 hours of direct sun stretches hard
Sowing too early indoors in February without supplemental lighting

What to Do

1.Move flats to the brightest south-facing window you have, or run a grow light 14-16 hours per day positioned 2-3 inches above the canopy
2.Pinch the growing tip once seedlings hit 4 inches to encourage branching instead of height
3.If they're already floppy, pot up into deeper cells and bury the stem an inch — Perilla tolerates it without complaint

Leaves develop dark water-soaked patches that collapse and turn brown, usually after a stretch of wet weather

Likely Causes

Botrytis cinerea (gray mold) — thrives in humid, stagnant air and gets worse in dense plantings
Spacing plants closer than 12 inches, which chokes airflow between stems

What to Do

1.Pull off and trash (not compost) any affected leaves immediately
2.Thin or transplant so plants sit at least 12-18 inches apart — NC State Extension's IPM notes that poor placement and crowding directly enable disease pressure
3.Water at the base, not overhead, and do it in the morning so foliage dries before nightfall

Leaves riddled with small ragged holes, especially on young growth, starting mid-spring

Likely Causes

Flea beetles (Epitrix spp.) — tiny black jumpers that overwinter in soil and emerge when temperatures push past 50°F
Slugs — more likely if damage appears overnight and plants are sitting in partial shade with consistently wet soil

What to Do

1.Cover transplants with row cover right after planting out in April-May; leave it on until plants are well-established and 8+ inches tall
2.For flea beetles, dust diatomaceous earth around the base — reapply after every rain
3.For slugs, set out iron phosphate bait (Sluggo) near the base of plants at dusk

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Britton shiso take to harvest?▼

Britton shiso typically reaches harvest maturity in 80-85 days from planting. You can begin harvesting larger leaves earlier for culinary use, while waiting longer produces fuller plants with more developed foliage suitable for sushi wraps and garnishes.

Is Britton shiso good for beginners?▼

Yes, Britton shiso is an excellent choice for beginners. It's rated as easy to grow, requiring minimal care once established. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and doesn't demand specialized growing conditions, making it ideal for new gardeners exploring Asian herbs.

Can you grow Britton shiso in containers?▼

Yes, Britton shiso grows well in containers. Its larger leaf and plant size compared to other shiso varieties means you'll want spacious pots. Container growing allows you to control temperature—keeping plants below 85°F enhances the vibrant color contrast in the foliage.

What does Britton shiso taste like?▼

Britton shiso has a mild mint and basil aroma with subtle hints of clove and cumin. The flavor is more delicate than other shiso varieties, making it versatile for salads, sushi wraps, and garnishes. The edible flowers add a flavorful, minty dimension to Asian dishes and salads.

When should I plant Britton shiso?▼

Plant Britton shiso after the last frost date in your region. It's best started from seed indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost, or direct sown outdoors once soil temperatures warm and frost danger has passed. Ensure plants receive 4-6+ hours of sun daily for optimal growth.

How does Britton shiso compare to other shiso varieties?▼

Britton shiso has larger leaves and a more substantial plant size compared to Red and Green shiso varieties. It features a milder mint and basil aroma and works exceptionally well as a salad mix, sushi wrap, or ornamental plant. Its colors show best contrast when grown in cooler temperatures.