Often in flower beds you can find herbaceous plants with colorful foliage - this is a shrub perilla. The article describes how to grow, how to plant and how to care for it outdoors. A description of the varieties of the representative of the family of the Yale and her photos will help you get to know an interesting plant better.
Railing description
Perilla is a perennial with beautiful foliage, which is used not only for decorative purposes, but also as a medicinal and cosmetic agent. This plant is also used in cooking as a spice. The culture is thermophilic, therefore, in mid-latitudes in the open air it can grow only from spring to autumn. Dies in winter.
The shrub perilla looks like this:
- Despite the name, perilla is not a shrub at all. It is just a very branched plant, the height of which in different species can be from 50 to 150 cm.
- The stems grow upward, have 4 edges.
- The leaves are large enough (up to 12 cm), ovoid, serrated along the edge, often wavy. Their color depends on the variety and can be green, purple, dark purple, almost black.
- Flowers are plain white or pale pink bells. Inflorescences are located at the tops of the shoots in the form of elongated brushes.
- Flowering begins in mid-summer and ends in early fall.
- Fruits containing four nuts do not ripen in the open ground of a temperate climate.
In Asian countries, perilla shrub is a very popular crop added to salads and used as a spice. Moreover, under appropriate conditions, it was revealed that there is much more carotene in its leaves than in root crops known to everyone. Oil obtained from seeds is also used for food.
Known plant varieties and varieties
For growing in the open field of a temperate strip, the following varieties are most often used:
- The mulatto is a very decorative, low plant. The leaves are purple, corrugated, serrated along the edge. The crown is pyramidal.
Council. So that the plant does not lose its decorative effect longer, flower growers recommend cutting off the peduncles.
- Aoshisa is a Japanese variety with green leaves that exude anise and caramel aromas.
- Akoshisa is also a representative of Japanese varieties. Red leaves are endowed with a peppery scent.
- Dewdrop - This variety is eaten. Leaves are red. In the open field, its planting is not damaged by the first frost.
- Mint Red - Purple fringed leaves with mint, lemon and cinnamon scent.
All varieties are very easy to distinguish by photo. The care and reproduction of the varieties is the same.
How to plant correctly and by what methods to propagate
Railing is carried out according to the following points:
- In the fall, a garden bed is prepared in a sunny area. The soil is carefully shovel and compost is applied.
Council. It is desirable that the planting of the perilla be carried out in the area where legumes grew last season.
- In the spring, holes are dug and fertilizer containing a complex of minerals is applied to each of them.
- Planting seedlings on a garden bed is carried out at temperatures not lower than + 12 ° C.
- A distance of about 30 cm is maintained between the seedlings. In the future, such an interval will facilitate maintenance.
- Make abundant watering.
- It is advisable to sprinkle the landing with sand on top. This will prevent the soil from drying out and the development of fungal diseases.
Reproduction of perilla is practiced using seeds. In the southern regions, they can be sown in spring or autumn directly in the open field. Growing through seedlings is desirable in cooler areas.
- Prepare a substrate from peat and sand (1: 1).
- The seeds are pre-disinfected in water with manganese.
- They are sown into grooves 5 mm deep.
- Watering carefully.
- Cover the container with plastic wrap and place in a warm place.
Seedlings break through in 2 weeks. They are provided with appropriate care, including regular watering and thinning. Fertilization of seedlings is not required.
Some amateurs propagate perilla by cuttings. To do this, you need to cut off the stems, put them in water, wait for the roots to appear and plant them in the ground. This method of reproduction is used when planting a plant for the winter from a garden to a pot.
How to care. Fertilizers and feeding
Railing maintenance is not difficult. It is enough to provide watering, loosen the soil and sometimes remove weeds.
Council. In autumn, during the first frosts, almost all plant varieties wither quickly, therefore, for further use, it is better to transplant the perilla into a container and bring it into the room.
The plant is fed monthly. For this, compost is used both as mulch and fertilizer. When growing perilla for the purpose of food, cutting of the stems is included in the grooming. It begins when the plant reaches 10 cm. After complete regrowth, the procedure is repeated.
If the perilla is grown for decorative purposes, then pruning is not needed. In this case, taller varieties should be supported to prevent lodging.
What to combine perilla with. Diseases and pests
In the garden, the shrub perilla looks very decorative. A wonderful combination of varieties with different colors of leaves, planted in the same flower bed. The railing is also good in the monotypic design of the borders. Planting a plant as a vegetable crop is also possible in a flower bed. The overall look will only benefit from the combination of bright foliage with flowers.
Groups of shrub railings look great against the background of conifers, ferns, deciduous shrubs.
The culture is affected mainly by fungi. These organisms, with stagnant water, damp and cold weather, can cause diseases such as fusarium, verticellosis and spotting. Prevention is compliance with the rules of care.
Of the pests that can damage any part of the plant, one can note the spider mite, scoop and various caterpillars. If they are found, perilla treatment with suitable insecticides is required.
Attention! If the plant is planned to be eaten, then the chemical preparations for processing should be selected with great care.
Perilla shrub is a wonderful culture that can decorate the garden, diversify the diet and improve health. With all its advantages, it is absolutely unpretentious, does not require much time and attention from the gardener.
Railing landing: video
Perilla is a useful and beautiful plant that is still quite rare in our gardens, although it deserves it.
Of the several existing species of perilla, which include annual and perennial grasses and shrubs native to moderately warm, subtropical or tropical regions of Asia, only one species is used in gardening and ornamental floriculture - perilla shrub Nanking (Perilla frutescens var. Nankinensis).
In the perilla of the Nanking shrubbery, gardeners are attracted by the fact that it belongs to a small group of universal plants - "multi-plant". Indeed, perilla is both a green culture, and a dye, and just a beauty!
Perilla shrub Nanking by its nature is a herbaceous perennial. But in regions with cold winters, this plant is grown as an annual. Its height depends on the specific variety and cultivation conditions (from 40 cm to 100 cm, and sometimes even up to 150 cm in the tropics and subtropics). However, in our climatic conditions, too high perilla is a rarity; more often in our gardens there are undersized (40-45 cm) and medium-sized (60-80 cm) varieties.
Perilla belongs to the vast family of the caramel, consisting of the most aromatic and medicinal herbs, country and meadow. We are well aware of the popular representatives of this family:, (oregano), motherwort, (salvia), lamb, etc. All these plants are rich in essential oils and complexes of active organic compounds - terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids.
But even the alkaloids in lamines have such a mild effect that they are not poisonous and dangerous. They are not comparable to such strong alkaloids as poppy morphine, dopey atropine, aconitine from, solanine (found in immature and green tubers), digitaline from - they all deserve to be compared in terms of toxicity with nicotine, cocaine, strychnine and tubocurarine (poison). On the contrary, in comparison with many of our other garden pets, plants from the lamb family are quite harmless and very useful; it is time to include the Nanking shrub perilla in this circle.
Names, varieties and varieties of perilla kutarnikova
Although the perilla of Nanking is called a shrub plant, it is clearly herbaceous.
The specific name "shrub" is not quite a correct translation from the Latin name (frutescens). It would be more correct to call it "bushy" or "bushy", that is, lush, branchy. Sometimes they also mistakenly translate "fruit", confusing the Latin "fruit" (frut) and "fruit".
Perilla of Nanking has many other names. Probably, no plant has so many names (it's not even about varieties). For instance:
- perilla basilic, wrinkled, fringed, vegetable;
- Japanese parsley;
- red mint, Chinese lemon balm, Chinese basil;
- Chinese shiso (jiso), Japanese suza;
- Vietnamese coriander, wild sesame.
And these names do not exhaust the list of perilla names.
But we will not drown in this bottomless sea of \u200b\u200bnames. In fact, all this is a variety of names for one type of plant, the birthplace of which is the Himalayan mountains.
It is important for us to know that there are two types of Nanking shrub perilla. One of them is used to extract oil from seeds (it is usually called Japanese suza). But our gardeners are not interested in it: after all, perilla seeds do not ripen everywhere. And it is too difficult to squeeze oil from perilla seeds on your own, this is for an industrial scale.
We need another variety, the seeds of which (hopefully) are sold in our stores - vegetable perilla... She is also very many-sided: bushes of different heights; leaves are small or large, monochromatic or spotted; the leaf blade is even or curly, dissected; the edges of the leaves are jagged or fringed. The color of the leaves of perilla is green, dark red, purple-violet, or almost black.
Russian seed companies offer perilla varieties: Mulatka, Purple, Ornamentalnaya, Florist's Dream, Absinta, etc. At the same time, only four perilla varieties are listed in the official Russian seed register:
- “Novinka” is a very old variety, back in 1946 it was proposed by the Far Eastern Experimental Station for obtaining oil from the seeds of this plant;
- "Rosinka" is a vegetable variety (green-leaved), although we often pack different red-leaved forms of perilla in bags with this variety;
- "Aozhiso" (green-leaved) and "Akazhiso" (red-leaved) - two Japanese varieties of perilla, which can be found in variants of partial translation from Japanese into English: "Giso Green" and "Giso Red" or "Aozhiso Green" and "Akazhiso Ed ".
In order to enjoy communication with the vegetable perilla in our garden, we try to purchase seeds from the most reliable companies, while paying attention not so much to the name of the perilla variety, but to its characteristics.
The use of perilla in cooking and medicine
In green-leaved forms of perilla, the leaves are the most delicate (they are called Japanese parsley).
Red-leaved perilla have tougher leaves, but these plants are decorative throughout the garden season and perfectly decorate any flower beds, bouquets. They are suitable as a natural color for pickles and drinks.
All varieties of perilla leaves (fresh, dried, frozen) can be used as. The bouquet of aromas can differ by varieties - in their smell and taste you can feel notes of anise, lemon, as well as cinnamon and slightly pungent, peppery.
If conditions permit, perilla seedlings are sown in February. But it is quite acceptable to wait until the end of March and even up to the beginning of April with sowing the perilla.
Fresh perilla seeds sprout normally without.
Swollen perilla seeds germinate much better. Perilla seeds are soaked for three days in water, which must be changed several times. However, in this case, wet seeds must receive air access. Then it is advisable to dig them a little into wet sand and keep them cool (in the refrigerator for a week).
To sow perilla seeds, you need a light soil; excess water should easily leave the pots with drainage holes.
The seeds of the perilla are lightly sprinkled with earth (although you can also find recommendations that they should be left open for germination in the light). Crops are placed in a warm place. Perilla seedlings usually appear in one to two weeks.
Growing perilla in the garden
Perilla seedlings are relocated to open ground at the onset of stable heat, when there is no longer a risk of frost return.
The heat-loving perilla loves a bright place and does not tolerate cold winds. She will also endure partial shade, although she prefers sunny places with constant moisture at the roots (without stagnant water).
Perilla seedlings can withstand replanting quite easily, they are not capricious.
Perilla seedlings are placed in a group at a distance of 20-25 cm or 30 cm from each other, depending on the future size of adult plants.
For greater bushiness, young plants are pinched. In tall forms of the perilla, you can make a decorative haircut of the bush.
Low-growing elegant perilla bushes are good in the foreground of flower beds and in borders. Against the backdrop of lush perilla bushes with an abundance of spectacular foliage, any garden plants look great, especially with contrasting leaves and bright flowers.
Will be a real find. Filling your own with spicy herbs is an old tradition that is back in fashion today. If there is a free area in the garden, you can decorate it with a decorative railing.
Description of culture
The names "perilla" or "shiso" are known to very few people; not everyone has tried this fragrant and juicy greens. And in vain, because this plant is very useful to everyone, without exception, because contains almost all the necessary micro and macro elements, an incredible amount of biologically active substances and vitamins. This spicy plant came to us from Japan, where it has been grown everywhere for many hundreds of years. This is a culture, sowing which once, it will be possible to collect delicate greens for a long time, which often grows up to 60 cm. Perilla is also used as a resident of the garden, since its foliage is multi-colored, maybe green, and red, and purple-pink.
Did you know? It is believed that Perilla was first cultivated in China and Japan. In Russia, she first appeared in the Far East, where she was brought from Northeast China. After that, they gradually began to grow the culture in the European part of Russia, in the North Caucasus, as well as in Ukraine.
Varieties for cultivation
Most often, gardeners use varieties from Japan. Ca our popular varieties are:
"Akajiso" ("Red Shiso") - Akashiso, or red-leaved perilla; 
"Aojiso" ("Green Shiso") - Aoshiso, green-leaved. 
They differ from other varieties in high and stable yield of green mass.
As for Russian varieties, vegetable perilla Rosinka is popular. She is early ripening, tolerates cold well, and also has a long, about 150 days.
Less popular, but still common, is the Covas Memorial variety. It is early maturing in comparison with other varieties of this culture.
Perilla conditions
Further care
The first shoots appear in about a week and a half. The seedlings do not require special care. It is enough to remove those that can grow in the ground, as well as remove weak, poorly developing shoots. 
As soon as two leaves are formed on the shoots, they can already be transplanted into open ground. It is best to do this in the beginning or in the middle, when it will definitely not be.
Planting seedlings in open ground
When the seedlings grow up, they can be transplanted into open ground. The ideal temperature for good perilla growth is about from + 22 ° С to + 28 ° С... The site needs to be selected sunny and windless.
Important! When transplanting seedlings, a distance between shoots of 20-30 cm should be observed, observing the density of 25 bushes per square meter of the site.
If possible, it is better to choose where you grew up last season, or. The soil should be on a bayonet and additionally fed
Perilla is a perennial plant from the Lamb family. The plant reaches a height of 40-60 centimeters. The plant can be divided into three types according to the color of the stems: with red, pink-purple and green leaves. Perilla contains many useful substances and essential oils. So, for example, in terms of carotene content, a plant can easily compete with carrots.
There are two types of railings:
- Basil, which is mainly grown for seeds for the production of essential oil;
- Nanjing, or salad, which is used in cooking as a spice.
Perilla has a beautiful appearance, especially its red-leaved species, which are often used to decorate dishes.
The plant has a strongly branched structure, the leaves are large, dryish and wrinkled to the touch. In Japan, perilla is an indispensable attribute of garden decoration.
In Russia, varieties of Japanese selection are mainly used. The varieties Akashiso and Aoshioso give good yields. Of the varieties of Russian selection, the Rosinka variety is popular, since it is cold-resistant, early ripening and has a long growing season - 150 days. Currently, domestic breeders are busy breeding new plant varieties.
Perilla loves loose, well-fertilized soils. The plant is grown mainly by seedlings, using the potting method. Plant seeds germinate very slowly, therefore, before sowing, they are soaked for several days, and the water is changed at least three times a day.
For seedlings, seeds are sown in April-May, and with the appearance of two true leaves, the seedlings dive into greenhouses or film greenhouses at a distance of 20-30 centimeters from each other.
They start harvesting greenery at the beginning of flowering. Shoots are cut at a height of 10 centimeters from the ground. As a rule, two cuts are made per season. Depending on the growing conditions, the average yield is 0.5-5 kg \u200b\u200bper square meter.
Fresh greens are stored for up to seven days if you put them in the refrigerator in a glass jar and cover with a lid. It is not recommended to store the perilla in plastic bags, as it quickly decays. For long-term storage, traditional greens are used.
Perilla greens have a mild aniseed and lemon aroma, the taste is juicy and delicate, with a slight peppery flavor. Leaves of young plants are used mainly fresh. Also, the leaves are pickled, salted and added to the preparation of various drinks and sauces.
Powder is made from dry perilla leaves, which is used as a spice, adding to vegetable and meat dishes. Mainly green-leaved plant varieties are used as a spice.
Red-leaved varieties are added to all kinds of pickles to give them color. In Japan, for example, red-leaved perilla is added when stachis is salted. At the same time, stachis tubers acquire a delicate specific aroma and a beautiful pink-red hue.
The healing properties of perilla
Perilla essential and fatty oils, which are found in large quantities in the seeds and leaves of the plant, have the main healing effect. Various infusions and decoctions are made from seeds and leaves, which have an antiseptic, sedative and analgesic effect. They are used for coughs, colds, bronchitis, and are also used as a diaphoretic and diuretic.
Perilla oil has great medicinal properties. It is obtained from plant seeds by cold pressing.
Perilla oil contains a large amount of alpha-linoleic acid - about 64%. This acid is the most important unsaturated acid necessary for the full functioning of the human body. Oleic and linoleic acids are present in perilla oil in the amount of 15% and 17%, respectively. It should also be noted that perilla oil is the only vegetable oil that contains twice as much omega-3 acids as fish oil.
The use of oil helps with various skin diseases, lowers blood cholesterol levels and blood pressure, positively affects the state of the nervous system, and reduces inflammation of the joints.
Perilla oil contains tannins and phenolic compounds (luteolin, catechin, rosmarinic acid, apigenin), as well as glycosides, flavonoids, terpenes, which have powerful anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral and antioxidant properties.
Rosemary acid protects the skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation, stabilizes cell membranes, fights free radicals, which is also associated with the anti-cancer properties of perilla oil.
In addition, perilla oil is widely used in Southeast and Japanese cosmetology and perfumery. It moisturizes and nourishes the skin well, relieves itching and irritation. Various creams, scrubs and face masks, as well as hair conditioners and shampoos are prepared on the basis of the oil.
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The plant belongs to the Lamb family. Today it is a monotypic genus, although until recently 6 species were attributed to it. But now these species are considered just varieties. It grows naturally in the Himalayas, Japan, China, India. And there it is a perennial plant. In our country, Perilla frutescens is grown as an annual. It has several more names - Nanking perilla, vegetable, curly.
Under natural conditions, the perilla grows up to 1 m, has an erect, branched, tetrahedral stem in cross section, densely overgrown with leaves. They constitute the main decorative value of the plant. Leaves are ovoid with a toothed margin, pubescent, grow oppositely, the lower ones have long petioles, the upper ones are sessile or on short petioles. The color of the leaves is green, purple, red, with spots in red tones of varying intensity. There are varieties with curly fringes along the edge of the leaf. Flowers are small, collected in an apical paniculate inflorescence. Appears in July. The fruits ripen in September-October.
In central Russia, perilla has a bush height of about 50 cm. It rarely blooms and the seeds, as a rule, do not ripen.
The plant loves a sunny place with loose, fertile soil. Watering is usual - 2-3 times a week. If the soil is not fertilized enough, compost or other organic matter must be added. For acidity, a neutral or slightly alkaline soil is required. Periodically weed and loosen. The plant tolerates shearing well, which is very useful when harvesting (used in cooking).
Perilla shrub is propagated by seeds. It is necessary to sow in the first half of April for seedlings, followed by picking. When the seedlings grow a little, you can pinch them to bush better. Seeds germinate better in the light, so there is no need to close them up. Seedlings usually appear in 10-14 days. For better germination before sowing seeds 
should be kept in the refrigerator at a temperature of about +5 C for 2-4 weeks. Seedlings are transplanted into open ground when the threat of spring frosts has passed. The planting interval is about 20 cm.
In the southern regions, you can sow in May in open ground.
There are many varieties. For decorative purposes, variegated perilla is usually grown. It can be used to decorate borders, to create accents in flower beds. It goes well with coleuses. Against the background of the dark purple foliage of the perilla, brightly flowering plants look contrasting.
But perilla is also used as a spice and as a medicinal plant. In cooking, young leaves are used fresh in salads. Old leaves are stewed, boiled, salted, pickled. All this goes well with meat, rice, fish. In Japan, inflorescences, and buds, and seeds are used.
As a medicinal plant, perilla is used as an antioxidant, fortifying, in case of food poisoning. In oriental medicine, the range of applications is much wider.