Mature size & growth rate

How big does Britton Perilla (Perilla frutescens 'Britton') get?

Also called Britton Perilla, Shiso, Beefsteak Plant.

More about britton perilla

About Britton Perilla

Perilla frutescens 'Britton' · also called Britton Perilla, Shiso · edible

Britton Perilla is a compact, upright cultivar of shiso with deeply ruffled, dark-green to bronze-tinged leaves and a spicy, anise-mint flavor. Ideal for edible gardens and containers, it thrives in full sun to part shade with regular moisture. A fast-growing annual herb used widely in Asian cuisine, it self-seeds readily in warm climates.

Mature size: 30–60 cm tall (12–24 in), 25–40 cm wide

Watch for — Aphid infestations: Clusters of aphids on new growth are common in warm, sheltered spots. Blast off with water or treat with insecticidal soap; encourage ladybirds and lacewings as biological controls.

Indoor size vs how big it gets in the wild

Britton Perilla reaches its full size within one growing season — there is no "long-term" size, just how big it gets before you harvest or it dies back. Indoors and in a pot, expect 30–60 cm tall (12–24 in), 25–40 cm wide. A pot, your light levels and a little pruning are what set the final size in a home, far more than the plant's theoretical potential.

It sizes up fast and once, racing from seedling to full size in a single season; after cropping it is finished, so size is a within-season question.

Growth rate and years to mature

Britton Perilla is a fast grower. Realistically, expect a single growing season — it reaches full size in one year, then is done. Its feeding profile backs this up: apply a balanced, general-purpose fertiliser (10-10-10) every 4–6 weeks during active growth, or top-dress with compost monthly. avoid excessive nitrogen, which promotes overly soft growth at the expense of flavor.

Want this turned into the right next pot at the right moment? The pot size calculator and the britton perilla repotting guide cover when and how much to size up — pot size is one of the biggest levers on how fast britton perilla grows.

How to keep britton perilla smaller

You are not stuck with the maximum size. For britton perilla specifically, these are the levers, in order of impact:

Choose a compact or dwarf variety of britton perilla from the start — that is the most reliable size control for an annual.
Grow it in a smaller container to naturally limit how large it gets.
For some crops, pinching or pruning the growing tips keeps the plant shorter and bushier.
Sow a little later or space plants closer if you specifically want smaller individual plants.

How to grow britton perilla bigger or faster

If you want it to fill the space sooner, push the conditions rather than hoping — for britton perilla the accelerators are:

Full sun, warm soil and steady water are what drive a crop to full size fastest.
Sow at the right time for your zone so it gets the whole season to size up.
Feed appropriately for the crop and never let it check (stall) from drought or cold.

Light is almost always the ceiling. The britton perilla light requirements page covers exactly how bright a spot it needs to grow at its potential instead of stalling.

When britton perilla outgrows the room (or the pot)

"Too big" usually arrives as one of these signs for britton perilla:

It sprawls beyond its bed or container before harvest — usually a spacing or support issue.
It flops or needs staking once it hits full height.
Once it has fruited or bolted, it is at its final size for good — the next plant is a new sowing.

If it is the pot rather than the room, it is a repotting job, not a goodbye — see the britton perilla repotting guide. If you want more of this plant instead of a bigger one, the britton perilla propagation guide turns prunings into new plants.

Britton Perilla size — frequently asked questions

How big does britton perilla get?

Britton Perilla reaches 30–60 cm tall (12–24 in), 25–40 cm wide when grown indoors. It sizes up fast and once, racing from seedling to full size in a single season; after cropping it is finished, so size is a within-season question.

Is britton perilla slow or fast growing?

Britton Perilla is a fast grower. Expect a single growing season — it reaches full size in one year, then is done. Britton Perilla reaches its full size within one growing season — there is no "long-term" size, just how big it gets before you harvest or it dies back.

How long does britton perilla take to reach full size?

Roughly a single growing season — it reaches full size in one year, then is done. Light, pot size and feeding move that timeline more than anything else.

How do I keep britton perilla smaller?

Choose a compact or dwarf variety of britton perilla from the start — that is the most reliable size control for an annual. Grow it in a smaller container to naturally limit how large it gets. For some crops, pinching or pruning the growing tips keeps the plant shorter and bushier. Sow a little later or space plants closer if you specifically want smaller individual plants.

How can I make britton perilla grow bigger or faster?

Full sun, warm soil and steady water are what drive a crop to full size fastest. Sow at the right time for your zone so it gets the whole season to size up. Feed appropriately for the crop and never let it check (stall) from drought or cold.