Shiso
Perilla frutescens
Also known as: Perilla, Beefsteak plant, Japanese basil, Kkaennip, Tia to
Quick facts
- Category
- herbs soft
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Days to harvest
- 60 to 90 days
- Harvest type
- cut leaves, plant regrows for repeated harvests
- Spacing
- 25 cm between plants
Environment
- Temperature
- 18–30°C
- pH
- 5.8 to 7
- EC (hydroponic)
- 1.2 to 2 mS/cm
- Daily light
- 14 to 22 mol/m²/day
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 4 to 10 (winter low around -34°C or warmer)
- Frost tolerance
- tolerates light frost
- Season
- warm (summer crops, frost-sensitive)
Viable growing environments:
- outdoor year-round (in zone)
- 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
Shiso works in:
- deep water culture (rafts)
- NFT channels
- 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 (shiso 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 | 0.8 |
| 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 warm-season herb for hydroponic systems. EC 1.0-2.0 mS/cm. pH 5.5-7.0. Temperature: 20–30°C (warm-season; frost-sensitive). Moderate to high light (DLI 14-22 mol/m2/day). Any hydroponic system works. From seed to first harvest: 6-8 weeks. Harvest individual leaves as needed; the plant produces continuously throughout the warm season. Pinch the growing tip at 20–25 cm to promote branching. Remove flower buds to extend leaf production. Green shiso is the more culinarily versatile type; red shiso is primarily for pickling and coloring. For Japanese home cooks, fresh shiso transforms sashimi plates and cold noodle preparations. The herb is expensive at Japanese grocery stores and nearly unavailable elsewhere, making it a high-value personal-use crop. Self-seeds vigorously in outdoor gardens.
Verified against: rhs-uk, university-of-florida-ifas. Last reviewed 2026-05-15.