Korean perilla
Perilla frutescens var. frutescens
Also known as: Kkaennip, Sesame leaf, Wild sesame, Deulkkae, Gungchaesil
Quick facts
- Category
- leafy greens
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Days to harvest
- 60 to 80 days
- Harvest type
- cut leaves, plant regrows for repeated harvests
- Spacing
- 30 cm between plants
Environment
- Temperature
- 18–28°C
- pH
- 5.5 to 7
- EC (hydroponic)
- 1.2 to 1.8 mS/cm
- Daily light
- 14 to 20 mol/m²/day
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 4 to 11 (winter low around -34°C or warmer)
- Frost tolerance
- frost sensitive (dies at first frost)
- Season
- warm (summer crops, frost-sensitive)
Viable growing environments:
- outdoor in growing season (annual)
- unheated greenhouse / hoop house
- heated greenhouse
- indoor (heated home)
- indoor hydroponics under grow lights
USDA zone bounds reflect outdoor year-round survival. Anywhere outside the bounded zone range, this crop still grows as an annual in the warm months (outdoor_seasonal), under cover (greenhouse), or indoors under lights.
Growing systems
Korean perilla works in:
- deep water culture (rafts)
- media bed (ebb and flow)
- wicking bed
- soil bed
Growing media
The substrate the roots sit in. Choice depends on the system (clay pebbles don't fit NFT channels; rockwool isn't used in media beds) and the crop (korean perilla works in the media listed below).
| Medium | pH effect | Water retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockwool (Mineral wool) | alkaline until pre-soaked | very high | low |
| Expanded clay pebbles (LECA) | neutral / inert | low | high |
| Coco coir (Coconut coir) | slightly acidic | high | moderate |
| Net pot, no medium (Bare-root) | - | - | - |
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies by source | high | high |
Bacterial surface area matters for aquaponics: clay pebbles, lava rock, and pumice double as biofilter substrate. Low-surface media (rockwool, perlite, pea gravel) work in hydroponics but need a separate biofilter in aquaponics.
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights at each growth stage; the nutrient mix calculator scales them to absolute grams or ml. EC targets shift through the plant's life: seedlings need a much lighter solution than fruiting adults.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC target (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.7 |
| vegetative | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1.5 |
Aquaponics suitability
Compatible with typical aquaponics nutrient profiles. Fish waste provides enough nitrogen for healthy growth; supplemental potassium, calcium, and iron may still be needed depending on fish stocking density.
Care notes
An easy, productive herb for warm-season hydroponic growing. EC 1.0-2.0 mS/cm. pH 5.5-7.0. Temperature: 20–30°C (warm-season; frost kills the plant). Moderate to high light (DLI 14-22 mol/m2/day). NFT, DWC, or media bed systems. From seed to first harvest: 6-8 weeks. The plants grow rapidly (60–90 cm tall) and produce large, harvestable leaves continuously throughout the warm season. Harvest individual leaves as needed for wraps and cooking. The plants branch well when pinched; remove the growing tip at 20–30 cm height to promote bushy, multi-stemmed growth. If flower buds appear, pinch them off to extend leaf production (once the plant flowers, leaf quality declines and the plant focuses on seed production). Perilla self-seeds aggressively in outdoor gardens; in hydroponic systems, this isn't relevant. For Korean cooking, fresh perilla leaves are essential for proper ssam (wrapping meat in leaves with garlic, ssamjang paste, and rice), and growing your own is the most reliable way to have them on hand. Fresh perilla commands premium prices ($8-15/bunch) at Korean grocery stores.
Plan a setup with Korean perilla
Verified against: korean-rural-development-administration, rhs-uk, kitazawa-seed-co. Last reviewed 2026-05-15.