Japanese Shiso Purple
Japanese Shiso Purple is a broad, deeply serrated heart-shaped leaves herb with fruit around Leaves 3-5 inches long and wide. Ready from roughly day 60-70. Germination takes 7-14 days. Space 12-18 inches apart at pH 6.0-7.5. Full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours). It will crop in a container.
Sowing
Direct sow after last frost or start indoors 4-6 weeks before transplanting. Seeds need light to germinate.
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours)
- Water
- Consistent moisture, 1 inch per week
- Soil
- Rich, well-draining soil with organic matter
- Soil pH
- 6.0-7.5
- Spacing
- 12-18 inches
- Height
- 1-3 feet
- Season
- Warm season annual
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Deep purple to burgundy leaves with green undersides
- Size
- Leaves 3-5 inches long and wide
- Shape
- Broad, deeply serrated heart-shaped leaves
- Flavour
- Complex blend of mint, basil, anise, and cinnamon with a slight spicy finish
In the kitchen
Japanese cuisine, sushi garnish, tempura, salads, pickling, Asian stir-fries, cocktail garnish
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Japanese beetles, flea beetles, aphids
- Diseases
- Bacterial leaf spot, downy mildew in humid conditions
- Resistance
- Good disease resistance, may be susceptible to fungal issues in humid conditions
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | January | February – April | — | April – December |
| 11 | January | January – March | — | March – December |
Companion planting
8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.
Avoid
Nutrition (per 100 g)
- Calories (per 100 g)
- 23
- Protein (g)
- 3.15
- Fat (g)
- 0.64
- Carbohydrate (g)
- 2.65
- Fibre (g)
- 1.6
- Sugars (g)
- 0.3
- Vitamin A (µg)
- 264
- Vitamin C (mg)
- 18
- Vitamin E (mg)
- 0.8
- Vitamin K (µg)
- 415
- Vitamin B6 (mg)
- 0.155
- Folate (µg)
- 68
- Calcium (mg)
- 177
- Iron (mg)
- 3.17
- Magnesium (mg)
- 64
- Phosphorus (mg)
- 56
- Potassium (mg)
- 295
- Zinc (mg)
- 0.81
- Selenium (µg)
- 0.3
Where to buy seed and equipment
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Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown Japanese Shiso Purple?
Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.
Similar varieties
Other herbs with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Japanese Shiso Purple suits these too.
- Purple Ruffles Oregano 60 days
- Vertissimo 60 days
- Spearmint 60 days
- Peppermint 60 days
- Common Chamomile 60 days
- Mrs. Burns' Lemon 60 days