Shiso
Perilla frutescens
Educational content — not medical, botanical, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified clinician before using any herbal preparation — especially during pregnancy, breastfeeding, while on medication, or for children. How we source & review →
Pl. DB86 — Perilla frutescens
Perilla frutescensPerilla frutescensPerilla frutescensPerilla frutescensPerilla frutescensPerilla frutescensPerilla frutescensPerilla frutescensPerilla frutescensPerilla frutescensPerilla frutescensPerilla frutescensPerilla frutescensPerilla frutescens
IOverview
Overview
Shiso (Perilla frutescens) is a herbaceous plant native to the regions of Assam, Bangladesh, China South-Central and Southeast, East and West Himalaya, India, Japan, Jawa, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Primorye, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Known for its culinary uses, shiso can be found in full sun with moist soil that is light or medium in texture. This plant thrives in hardiness zones 7-10 and grows to a height of about 60 cm with a width of around 50 cm. Its distinctive features include edible flowers, leaves, and seeds, making it a versatile addition to gardens and kitchens alike.
Quick answers
What is Shiso?
Shiso (Perilla frutescens) is a herbaceous plant native to the regions of Assam, Bangladesh, China South-Central and Southeast, East and West Himalaya, India, Japan, Jawa, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Primorye, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
What is Shiso used for?
Traditionally used for stress & anxiety, digestion. Each claim is evidence-rated — see Section II for full citations.
Best for
Top 2 evidence-ranked uses of Shiso
Clinicaluses · safety · chemistry · dosagemedicinal profile
IIBenefits & evidence
2 claims · 0 sources
Benefits & evidence
2 claims · 0 sources- Traditional-use note: Shiso appears in herbal sources around calming and relaxation traditions, often as a tea. PlantSage presents this as ethnobotanical context, not as medical advice.
Traditional context only. This reviewed claim keeps the original moderate confidence level, but avoids treatment, disease, dosage, or guaranteed-effect language.
- Shiso has been traditionally used in East Asian medicine to aid digestion, particularly for symptoms like bloating and indigestion. Its use is often recommended as a culinary herb or tea.
The mechanism by which shiso supports digestive health is not fully characterized but may involve the presence of volatile oils that have carminative properties.
IV·bMixology suggestions
1 draft
Mixology suggestions
1 draftEditorial drafts. These pairings are AI-suggested from traditional herbal lore. Always verify with a qualified herbalist before brewing.
Shiso support blend
generaltea
AI returned a direct ingredient list; normalized into one draft blend for editorial review.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
VCultivation
Cultivation
Shiso thrives in full sun and prefers moist, well-draining soil that is light (sandy) or medium. It grows to about 0.6 meters tall and 0.5 meters wide, making it a compact herb for the garden. Hardy in zones 7-10, shiso can be propagated by seed or division. The edible parts include leaves, flowers, and seeds, which are commonly used in cooking.
Light
Full sun
Water
Moist
Soil
Light (sandy), Medium
Hardiness
7-10
Life cycle
Annual, Perennial
Habit
Forb/herb
Mature size
0.6 m × 0.5 m
For first-time growers
How to grow Shiso for the first time
7steps
Start with a simple and manageable approach to growing Shiso, focusing on basic care.
- 1
What you'll need
Seeds or seedlings, containers or garden space, potting soil, water.
- 2
Best time to plant
Plant in spring after the last frost, when temperatures are consistently above 10°C (50°F).
- 3
Soil and container prep
Use well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Ensure containers have drainage holes.
- 4
Sowing or transplanting
Direct sow seeds in the garden after danger of frost, or start indoors 4-6 weeks before planting outside.
- 5
First two weeks
Water regularly to keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Monitor for pests and diseases.
- 6
Ongoing care
Provide full sun exposure and regular watering. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer every 4-6 weeks.
- 7
Harvest or pruning
Prune regularly to encourage bushy growth, harvesting leaves as needed for use in cooking.
VIEdible & utility
Edible & utility
Edible parts:FlowersLeavesSeed
Edible uses: Oil, Colouring, Condiment
Other uses:Essential OiloilFragrance
Contextrange · companions · related
VIIDistribution
18 native · 12 introduced
Distribution
18 native · 12 introducedDistribution across1 continent· 18 native· 12 introduced
Asia11 regions
native (11)BangladeshChinaIndiaJapanLaosMyanmarNepalSouth KoreaTaiwanThailandVietnam
Broader regions
native:East Himalaya, Khabarovsk, Primorye, West Himalaya, Jawa
introduced:Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee
IXSpecimen gallery
1 image
Specimen gallery
1 imageXSee also
8 related
See also
8 relatedPlants you might compare or use together — scored by shared family, common use cases, and growing requirements.
shared use cases
Different families, similar therapeutic role — good for comparing.
XI
Explore further
Companion planting
Compare with similar plants
Growing zone
XII
About this entry
- Last updated
- Citation
- How to cite this entry · Submit a correction
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