Perilla frutescens ‘Balmagpurp’ (Magilla Purple Perilla) on 7-12-14, #231-73.
Beefsteak Plant, Magilla Purple Perilla
‘Magilla® Purple Perilla’
Perilla frutescens ‘Balmagpurp’
per-IL-uh froo-TESS-enz
Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton is the correct and accepted scientific name of this plant. It was documented as such by Nathaniel Lord Britton in Memoirs of the Torrey Botanical Club in 1894. It was first named Ocimum frutescens by Carl von Linnaeus and documented in Species Plantarum in 1753.
The genus, Perilla L., was named and described as such by Carl von Linnaeus in the sixth edition of Genera Plantarum in 1764.
As of 12-20-23 when this page was last updated, Plants of the World Online lists one species in the Perilla genus. It is a member of the plant family Lamiaceae with 232 genera. Those numbers could change as updates are made on POWO.
I bought this colorful Perilla in 2014. It had ‘Coleus” looking leaves and I love Coleus, so I bought it. I kept it in a pot and it did very well and there were never any issues.
The name Magilla® Purple Perilla was possibly patented by Ball Seed Company. However, the name Perilla frutescens ‘Balmagpurp’ is likely to have come from its actual source (and you need a flower license to sell). Many plants are developed in other countries and marketed under a different name than when they come to the US.
THERE ARE A FEW LINKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR FURTHER READING.
Perilla frutescens-Magilla® Purple Perilla on 7-12-14, #231-73.
USEFUL INFORMATION:
FAMILY: Lamiaceae (mint family)
ZONES: Plants are hardy down to 32 degrees F.
LIGHT: Sun to part shade. The colors of the leaves intensify with brighter light.
SIZE: Maybe up to 36” x at least 18” wide.
WATER: Average water requirements. Water when dry, especially those plants grown in pots.
FLOWERS: Similar to the coleus and other members (not all) of the mint family.
USES: Great in containers, mixed planters, and beds.
The seeds of the Perilla are high in dietary fiber, calcium, iron, niacin, protein, and thiamine and are used in various ways. The leaves are also used fresh or cooked and even sometimes used as a basil substitute… Hmmm.
Perilla is used in traditional medicine for respiratory and gastrointestinal problems. It has recently been used in trials for the treatment of some cancers.
I hope you enjoyed this page and maybe found it useful. I would like to hear from you if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions. Please click on “like” if you visited this page. It helps us bloggers stay motivated. 🙂 You can check out the links below for further reading. The links take you directly to the genus and species of this plant.
The Belmont Rooster 