Bi-Color Shiso 'Britton'

I used to be partial to the purple-leaf strain, but after growing it once in pots I found it turned into a persistent annual weed. After ...Read Moremore than a decade, I'm still weeding it out of the beds. It's very aggressive and outcompetes many perennials.

A pretty plant, but there are far too many other pretty plants that are less work. I'll never plant this again deliberately in any garden.

Coleus makes an excellent substitute, unless you want to eat it.

This species is toxic to many animals.

This plant's invasive behavior has alarmed many organizations concerned with preserving natural areas, including the US National Park Service and the US Forest Service. It has been reported as disrupting natural habitat in 8 states.

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/midatlantic/pefr.htm

This beautiful, shade-loving herb was a delightful surprise for me. Shiso Britton required little care and thrived in my shaded front ya...Read Morerd... even during the hottest part of summer. It was completely pest-free. I found it to have a much better flavor than Green Shiso. I usually picked the smaller leaves for Asian noodle soups and stir fries. It has a somewhat licorice/anise flavor, but it's very unique and hard to describe. This is a must-have herb for that shady spot you need to fill. I am really enjoying it's beauty as an ornamental, too. Direct-seeding, Shiso Britton, was the most successful for me. I purchased my seeds from Johnny's Selected Seeds.