Perilla frutescens var. crispa

RHS Plant Profile
curly perilla

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curly perilla RHS
curly perilla Copyrighted 2003

Synonyms

Perilla frutescens var. nankinensis

Award of Garden Merit
Annual Biennial Bedding

A bushy, aromatic annual with broadly ovate, deep purple leaves with crisped and incised margins, and spikes of insignificant white flowers in summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1–2 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H3

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Lamiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Perilla are bushy upright annuals with toothed, ovate, aromatic, often red or purple leaves, and insignificant 2-lipped white flowers borne in erect spikes in late summer
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
China

How to Grow

Cultivation

Best grown in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade, used as foliage carpet bedding plant but also as a herb

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Garden edging

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free