Japanese Shiso Purple
Perilla frutescens var. crispa
An exotic and stunning herb that's essential in Japanese cuisine, featuring deeply serrated purple leaves with a complex flavor profile. This beautiful annual combines the appearance of an ornamental plant with incredible culinary versatility. Shiso adds both visual drama and unique taste to gardens and dishes alike.
Harvest
60-70d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-3 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Japanese Shiso Purple in USDA Zone 11
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Japanese Shiso Purple · Zones 10–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
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
.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
Fresh Japanese shiso purple leaves maintain peak quality for 5-7 days when stored properly. Wrap harvested leaves loosely in damp paper towels and place in perforated plastic bags in the refrigerator's crisper drawer. Avoid washing until ready to use, as excess moisture accelerates deterioration.
For short-term storage, treat shiso like fresh basil — place stems in water and cover loosely with plastic, changing water every 2-3 days. The leaves will maintain their vibrant color and flavor for up to a week.
Dehydrating preserves shiso's complex flavor profile better than most herbs. Air-dry by hanging small bundles in a well-ventilated, dark location for 7-10 days. Properly dried shiso retains its purple color and can be crumbled for seasoning.
Freezing works well for cooked applications. Layer clean, dry leaves between parchment paper and freeze in airtight containers for up to 6 months. Frozen leaves work perfectly for tempura batter or cooked dishes but lose their crisp texture for fresh applications.
Traditional Japanese preservation involves salt-pickling whole leaves, creating a condiment that keeps for months and intensifies the flavor.
History & Origin
Origin: Himalayas to Southeast Asia
Advantages
- +Edible: Leaves as a salad herb, flavoring
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -High maintenance
Companion Plants
Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant make practical neighbors because they share shiso's preference for soil pH between 6.0 and 7.5 and need the same warm-season timing, so you're not trying to reconcile conflicting bed conditions. Marigolds and nasturtiums nearby add real value against aphids and flea beetles — both pests that hit shiso regularly — through scent disruption that makes the bed harder to locate. Lettuce works well tucked under shiso's 1–3 foot canopy: it appreciates the partial shade in hot weather and roots shallowly enough that the two don't fight for the same resources.
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is the one to keep at a genuine distance — it releases allelopathic compounds that suppress nearby plants, and herbs are more sensitive to this than most vegetables. Mint looks harmless at planting but spreads through underground stolons fast enough to physically invade shiso's 12–18 inch spacing within a single season. Plant it in a container if you want it nearby. Black walnut (Juglans nigra) produces juglone throughout its root zone — which can extend well past the drip line — and shiso shouldn't be sited anywhere that soil has been under walnut influence.
Plant Together
Tomatoes
Shiso repels tomato hornworms and other pests while improving tomato flavor
Peppers
Shiso deters aphids and spider mites that commonly attack pepper plants
Eggplant
Both enjoy warm weather and shiso helps repel flea beetles that damage eggplant
Cucumbers
Shiso attracts beneficial insects and may help deter cucumber beetles
Beans
Beans fix nitrogen in soil benefiting shiso, while shiso repels bean beetles
Lettuce
Shiso provides partial shade for cool-season lettuce and deters slugs
Marigolds
Both repel similar pests and marigolds enhance shiso's pest-deterrent properties
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and other pests, protecting shiso
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Releases juglone toxin that inhibits growth and can kill shiso plants
Fennel
Allelopathic compounds inhibit germination and growth of shiso and most herbs
Mint
Aggressive spreading habit competes for space and nutrients, can overwhelm shiso
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #172232)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good disease resistance, may be susceptible to fungal issues in humid conditions
Common Pests
Japanese beetles, flea beetles, aphids
Diseases
Bacterial leaf spot, downy mildew in humid conditions
Troubleshooting Japanese Shiso Purple
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Tiny, irregular holes scattered across leaves, especially on young transplants
Likely Causes
- Flea beetles (Phyllotreta spp.) — they chew small shot-holes and are worst on stressed or newly transplanted seedlings
- Dry soil conditions that weaken the plant and slow recovery
What to Do
- 1.Cover transplants with row cover immediately after setting them out — flea beetles find plants by sight and smell, and exclusion works well
- 2.Keep soil consistently moist at 1 inch of water per week; plants that aren't stressed outgrow minor flea beetle damage faster
- 3.If pressure is heavy, apply a spinosad-based spray in the early morning when beetles are active
Large, ragged chunks missing from leaf edges, especially on mature plants in midsummer
Likely Causes
- Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) — they skeletonize leaves and cluster, so damage escalates quickly once they find the plant
- June beetles can cause similar damage on plants near lawn edges
What to Do
- 1.Hand-pick beetles in the early morning when they're sluggish and drop them into soapy water
- 2.Skip Japanese beetle bag traps near the garden — NC State Extension notes they attract more beetles than they catch
- 3.Neem oil (azadirachtin) applied every 7 days can deter feeding, though it won't remove adults already on the plant
Soft, distorted new growth with sticky residue on leaves and stems, sometimes with ants trailing up the stems
Likely Causes
- Aphids (including green peach aphid, Myzus persicae) — they cluster on tender growth and excrete honeydew that draws ants
- Ants actively guard aphid colonies from predators, letting infestations compound
What to Do
- 1.Knock aphids off with a firm spray of water in the morning so leaves dry before nightfall
- 2.Protect or introduce beneficial insects — parasitic wasps and ladybeetles (Coccinellidae) knock populations back without any inputs
- 3.If colonies persist after 3–4 days, hit them directly with insecticidal soap; two applications usually clear it
Gray or purple fuzzy coating on the undersides of leaves, with pale yellow patches showing on the upper surface
Likely Causes
- Downy mildew — an oomycete (water mold, not a true fungus) that flares when humidity is high and nights drop below 65°F, particularly in dense or low-airflow plantings
- Overhead irrigation that leaves foliage wet going into the evening
What to Do
- 1.Space plants 18 inches apart rather than the minimum 12 — the extra room cuts the humidity pocket around each stem significantly
- 2.Switch to drip or base watering and do it in the morning; NC State Extension recommends this broadly to reduce nighttime leaf wetness that feeds foliar pathogens
- 3.Pull and trash affected leaves at first sign — don't compost them — and rotate shiso out of that bed for at least one full season
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Japanese shiso purple take to grow from seed?▼
Can you grow Japanese shiso purple in containers?▼
What does Japanese shiso purple taste like compared to green shiso?▼
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Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.