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Plant care

Green Shiso (Green Perilla) care

Perilla frutescens var. crispa f. viridis

Also called Green Shiso, Green Perilla, Ao Shiso, Japanese Basil, Green Beefsteak Plant.

RHS H1cUSDA 2–11Pet-safeIndoor 40–80 cm tall

Watering rhythm

2-3days

Every 2–3 days; keep consistently moist

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Light

Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

Soil

Rich, moist, well-drained loam, pH 5.5–6.5

Humidity

50–80%

Temp

18°C to 35°C

Pet safety

Pet-safe

Mature size

40–80 cm tall

Care at a glance

Light

Green Shiso is what florists mean by "bright spot, no direct sun" — close enough to a south or east window to feel the brightness, with a sheer curtain or a few feet of distance keeping the sun off the leaves. Grows best in full sun to light partial shade. In very hot climates (above 32°C), afternoon shade prevents leaf scorch and delays bolting. Indoors, provide a bright south- or west-facing windowsill or supplemental grow-lights for 14–16 hours per day. A phone lux-meter at the leaf surface should read 1,500-3,000 lux at noon.

Watering

Outdoor green shiso crops want every 2–3 days; keep consistently moist. The single best habit is a finger-test before watering — push a finger 3-4 cm into the soil. Damp = wait a day; dust-dry = water deeply at the base of the plant. Prefers consistently moist soil — allow only the top centimetre to dry between waterings. Drought stress causes rapid bolting and bitter leaf flavour. In containers, check daily in warm weather. Avoid waterlogging.

Soil and pot

Green Shiso grows best in rich, moist, well-drained loam, ph 5.5–6.5. Thrives in fertile, organic-matter-rich soil with good moisture retention but adequate drainage. Amend garden beds with compost before planting. In containers, use a high-quality peat-free potting mix with added compost. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Green Shiso sits happiest at around 50–80% humidity and 18°C to 35°C (64°F to 95°F). Prefers moderate to high humidity, consistent with its native East Asian monsoon climate. In dry indoor environments, mist foliage occasionally or place a humidity tray nearby. Good air circulation prevents fungal issues despite high humidity. If you keep the room above 18°C to 35°C year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed green shiso sparingly. Apply a nitrogen-rich balanced liquid fertiliser every 2–3 weeks during the growing season to support lush leafy growth. In rich garden soil, monthly feeding is sufficient. Reduce feeding once flower spikes appear (or remove spikes to prolong leaf harvest). Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on green shiso in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Premature bolting — Triggered by long days, heat stress, or drought. Pinch out flower spikes as soon as they appear to extend the leaf harvest by several weeks. Providing afternoon shade in midsummer also delays bolting.
  • Aphids on young shoots — Soft new growth is a favourite aphid target, especially in sheltered conditions. Knock off with a strong water spray or apply an insecticidal soap solution. Encourage lacewings and ladybirds as natural predators.
  • Damping off in cool, wet conditions — Seedlings are susceptible to damping off if sown in cold, waterlogged compost. Sow only when soil temperature is above 18°C, use sterile seed compost, and ensure good drainage and airflow around seedling trays.

Propagation

Direct-sow seed after last frost when soil temperature exceeds 18°C; seeds need light to germinate — do not cover. Start indoors 4–6 weeks before last frost at 20–24°C. Germinates in 7–14 days. Plants self-seed abundantly; transplant or thin self-sown seedlings in subsequent years. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Green Shiso is pet-safe. Perilla frutescens is listed as toxic to horses and ruminants (contains perilla ketone, causing pulmonary oedema) in veterinary literature. However, the ASPCA does not list it as toxic to dogs or cats. Exercise caution with livestock exposure; the risk to companion pets (dogs, cats) appears low at culinary leaf quantities, but avoid large ingestions. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Green Shiso care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Perilla frutescens var. crispa f. viridis?

Perilla frutescens var. crispa f. viridis is most commonly called Green Shiso, but it is also known as Green Shiso, Green Perilla, Ao Shiso, Japanese Basil, Green Beefsteak Plant. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Green Shiso apply identically to anything sold as Green Perilla.

How much light does green shiso need?

Green Shiso grows best in bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window). Grows best in full sun to light partial shade. In very hot climates (above 32°C), afternoon shade prevents leaf scorch and delays bolting. Indoors, provide a bright south- or west-facing windowsill or supplemental grow-lights for 14–16 hours per day.

How often should I water green shiso?

Water green shiso every 2–3 days; keep consistently moist. Prefers consistently moist soil — allow only the top centimetre to dry between waterings. Drought stress causes rapid bolting and bitter leaf flavour. In containers, check daily in warm weather. Avoid waterlogging. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is green shiso toxic to cats and dogs?

Green Shiso is pet-safe. Perilla frutescens is listed as toxic to horses and ruminants (contains perilla ketone, causing pulmonary oedema) in veterinary literature. However, the ASPCA does not list it as toxic to dogs or cats. Exercise caution with livestock exposure; the risk to companion pets (dogs, cats) appears low at culinary leaf quantities, but avoid large ingestions.

What USDA hardiness zone does green shiso grow in?

Green Shiso is rated for USDA zone 2–11 (annual) and RHS hardiness H1c. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Green Shiso deep-dive guides

Every aspect of green shiso care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Green Shiso qualifies for 1 curated Growli shortlist — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Green Shiso is also known as Green Shiso, Green Perilla, Ao Shiso, Japanese Basil, and Green Beefsteak Plant.