Perilla 'Magilla' is a tropical tender perennial grown as an ornamental annual across zones 2-11, prized for its dramatic, multicolored foliage rather than its flowers. Plants reach 24-36 inches tall and wide, forming a compact mound of deeply colored, deeply textured leaves that make a bold statement in any garden. The white nettle-like flowers that appear in summer are intentionally removed to keep the focus on the striking foliage. Low-maintenance and pest-resistant, Perilla thrives in full sun to partial shade with moderate watering and performs equally well in garden beds or containers.
Partial Sun
Moderate
2-11
36in H x 36in W
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Moderate
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Perilla's showy multicolored leaves, growing to 5 inches long, steal the show with their ovate to oblong shape and toothed margins. Unlike its close relative coleus, Perilla brings a wilder, more sculptural presence to the garden. Gardeners pinch back the stem tips early in the season to encourage bushiness and maintain a tidy mounded form, giving you complete control over the plant's shape throughout summer. Deer leave it untouched, and it faces no serious insect or disease problems in most growing conditions.
Perilla 'Magilla' is primarily grown as an ornamental annual, valued for its bold foliage in mixed containers, garden beds, and as a specimen plant where its dramatic leaf colors can shine. The flowering stems should be removed as they appear to preserve the plant's visual appeal and encourage continued foliage production rather than seed set.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seed indoors 8-12 weeks before your last frost date. Sow on moist seed-starting mix and keep warm. Transplant seedlings to larger pots once they've developed true leaves.
Transplant outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed. Space plants 24-36 inches apart to allow for their mature spread.
Seed may also be sown directly in the garden after the last frost date, though indoor starting gives you a head start on the season.
Pinch the stem tips early in the growing season and continue as needed throughout summer to promote bushiness and keep plants compact. Remove flower spikes as they appear to preserve the plant's ornamental foliage appeal and redirect energy into leaf production rather than flowering.
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