Shiso, otherwise known as perilla, beefsteak plant, Chinese basil, or purple mint, is a member of the Lamiaceae or mint family. For centuries, growing perilla mint has been cultivated in China, India, Japan, Korea, Thailand, and other Asian countries but is more often classified as a weed in North America.

Can I grow shiso?

Best location: Plant shiso in full sun or light shade; in hot summer regions grow shiso in dappled sunlight. Soil preparation: Plant shiso in compost-rich, well-drained soil. Shiso prefers a soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5. Shiso will grow in average soil.

Where are shiso leaves from?

Perilla frutescens var. crispa, also known by its Japanese name shiso, is a cultigen of Perilla frutescens, a herb in the mint family Lamiaceae. It is native to the mountainous regions of China and India, but is now found worldwide.