Purple Shiso Heirloom Herb Seeds

Bring rich wine-purple color and a distinctive flavor to your herb garden with Purple Shiso, also known as Red Shiso or Perilla. This warm-season annual produces aromatic leaves with sweet, savory, minty, and citrusy notes. Pick a few tender leaves to brighten a bowl of noodles, finish a rice dish, or add a colorful garnish to your next meal.

Why Grow Purple Shiso?

• Beautiful edible foliage: Broad, veined leaves with serrated edges add deep purple color to herb beds and containers.
• Versatile culinary herb: Use fresh in salads, sushi garnishes, rice dishes, wraps, and savory cooking.
• Distinctive aroma: A fragrant combination of mild mint, sweet and savory notes, and a bright, slightly astringent finish.
• Upright, bushy growth: Plants typically reach approximately 1–3 feet tall, depending on conditions.
• Heirloom and open-pollinated: Non-GMO seed for a traditional kitchen-garden herb.

Planting and Growing

Start indoors 4–6 weeks before your last spring frost, or direct sow after frost danger has passed. Sow shallowly, pressing seeds into moist seed-starting mix and covering only very lightly, as light aids germination. Keep the surface consistently moist without waterlogging. Follow any lot-specific pretreatment directions supplied with your seed.

Choose full sun to partial shade and rich, moist, well-drained soil. Harden off indoor-grown seedlings before transplanting. Space plants approximately 10–12 inches apart; in a square foot garden, use 1 plant per sq ft. Pinch growing tips to encourage branching and harvest leaves regularly.

Growing Details

• Botanical name: Perilla frutescens var. crispa.
• Days to maturity: Approximately 60–70 days.
• Life cycle: Warm-season annual; protect from frost.
• Growth habit: Upright and bushy, approximately 1–3 feet tall.
• Light: Full sun to partial shade.
• Soil: Rich, moist, and well-drained.
• Flowers: Small pink-to-white blooms may develop as plants move toward seed production later in the season.

Harvest and Kitchen Uses

Harvest tender leaves as needed once plants are established, leaving enough foliage for continued growth. Slice into salads, scatter over noodles and fried rice, use as a garnish, or experiment with pickling and herb-infused drinks. Start with a small amount so its distinctive flavor complements your dish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Purple Shiso and Red Shiso the same?

This variety is commonly sold under both names, referring to its wine-red to purple foliage.

Does every shiso seed lot need cold stratification?

Do not assume every lot needs the same treatment. Follow the supplier's directions for your particular seed lot, and sow shallowly with consistent moisture.

Will it fit a small garden?

Yes. Grow it in a raised bed or roomy container, with regular harvesting and pinching to help maintain bushy growth.

Packed and shipped by Box Garden Seeds LLC — heirloom seeds grown without GMOs, selected for flavor and your garden's success.