Fundamental Facts
HARDINESS: Tender
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Adaptable
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Adaptable
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun to partial shade
ATTRIBUTES: Bronze leaves; pink flowers; for beds, pots
SEASON OF INTEREST: Summer to fall
FAVORITES: 'Purple Hedge'; seeds sold by species name
QUIRKS: Reseeds prolifically
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Castor bean, coleus, heuchera, phormiums
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: In any climate, any soil, full sun or partial shade
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Flea beetles, aphids, slugs
CRITTER RESISTANCE: Good
SOURCE: Bedding plants, seeds, or cuttings
DIMENSIONS: 2-3 ft (0.6-1 m) tall, 8-12 in (20.3-30.5 cm) wide
Perilla in the Landscape
This care-free member of the mint family has many virtues. Closely related to the purple-leaved herb opal basil, perilla has bronze leaves that are similarly crinkled, scented, and hemmed with serrated edges. It's absolutely beautiful when sunlight causes its leaves to shimmer with a metallic sheen. In times past the edible leaves were used for tenderizing meat, which might account for the British nickname for perilla: beefsteak plant. In Asia the leaves are still used as a seasoning in cuisine.
Once you plant perilla, seedlings will be sprouting in future seasons. In this case, that's good news because perilla is a lovely addition to any garden. Humans are not the only ones to appreciate perilla. Birds dine on the seeds that follow quickly in the wake of pink flower spires in mid-season. Birds merely make a dent. To control the bounty, weed out excess seedlings with a flick of the wrist, or prune off flower spikes before they go to seed.
Use perilla as a colorful accent within eyeshot of castor bean plant, bronze phormium, bronze-and-pink coleus, or heuchera. Like those plants, perilla tolerates full sun or partial shade and just about any soil that happens to be underfoot. Standing bolt upright, perilla forms a slender 2-3 ft (0.6-1 m) tall plant. 'Purple Hedge' is a popular variety of this plant, which is most often sold as a species. For a fuller effect, several perillas should be nestled closely together.
Growing Perilla
Few plants are as easy to please as perilla. It needs only sun or partial shade and will thrive in any type of soil. Additional watering is seldom necessary; only plants growing in hot, sunny places will wilt. The best show is accomplished by grouping several perilla plants closely side by side with only 4-6 in (10.2-15.2 cm) between neighbors.
Perilla isn't bothered by disease and rarely by insects. Flea beetles and slugs occasionally chew holes in leaves, and sap-sucking, pear-shaped aphids can cluster at the tips of buds and juicy leaves. Set out saucers of beer at sundown to trap and drown nocturnal slugs. Knock flea beetles and aphids off plants with a strong spray of water or spray with insecticidal soap, according to label directions. Remove plant debris from the garden to eliminate places where pests can hide and overwinter.
Increasing the Bounty
Perilla is easily grown from seed, or you can propagate existing plants by rooting 4 in (10.2 cm) long cuttings taken from the growing tips of the plants before they begin to flower. To properly sow seeds, refrigerate them for 1 week. Then sow them indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost, or directly in die garden bed when spring is in full swing and the soil is warm. Scatter the small seeds on the surface of a pot of moistened seed-starting soil or outdoors over finely raked garden soil. Perilla seeds require light to germinate, so the seeds should be left uncovered. Mist the soil immediately after sowing and keep the soil moist until germination occurs, in 1 to 2 weeks.To encourage branching, pinch off the tip of the main stem when the second set of mature leaves develops. Seedlings can be thinned or transplanted when they have several sets of mature leaves.
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