Perilla 'Magilla' is a frost tender bushy perennial that tends to be grown as an annual.
It has wonderful vibrant variegated leaves, the most common variety 'Purple' burgundy and bright pink but there is also a variety 'Vanilla' that has green leaves with cream centres. The leaves are edible and aromatic.
It has often mistaken for Coleus as the leaves are very similar, but this is a much hardier plant with stronger stems and leaves that are more tolerant to hot conditions.
In summer, short flower spikes are produced but the white flowers are small and rather insignificant. Most gardeners remove them to encourage more leaf growth.
They grow best in full sun but will tolerate some shade, however the more sun they receive the brighter the leaves will become.
In warm conditions they can grow to 1m tall and wide in cooler conditions they tend to grow to half that size.
These look their best when used in a mass planting along a border or bed beside a path.
They will also grow in pots as long as they are watered through the summer months
Varieties
Perilla magilla ‘Purple’ - Deep rose-pink leaves each with a prominent central cerise vein.
Perilla magilla ‘Vanilla’ - Large, bright green leaves with a vanilla-coloured centre.