Beefsteakplant (Perilla frutescens)

How much light does a Beefsteakplant need?

Full sun is preferred for this plant. In the listing, full sun means six or more hours of direct sunlight a day. Part shade is also listed. Another extension source says it is often found in disturbed areas in full sun to part shade. The water record adds that it grows best in full sun to partial shade.

• Light: Full sun and part shade (full sun preferred)^1,2

How often to water a Beefsteakplant

The water range listed for this plant runs from dry to medium. Dry and medium are the two ends of that range. One extension listing says it grows best in full sun to partial shade in rich, moist to dry soil. Soil drainage is listed as good. Occasionally wet soil is also listed under drainage.

• Water: Dry to medium¹

Best soil for a Beefsteakplant

Soil drainage for this plant is listed as well drained and occasionally wet. The extension record describes the drainage as good. Its growing guidance names rich soil. That soil can run from moist to dry. The water range for the plant is dry to medium. Both drainage conditions appear together in the drainage record. No cited source gives a soil pH range for this plant.

• Soil drainage: Well drained and occasionally wet¹

Hardiness and temperature

Hardiness zones 10a, 10b, 11a and 11b are listed for this plant. No minimum temperature is recorded alongside that range. The plant is classed as an annual. A garden colder than zone 10a falls outside the listed range. Those four zones are the whole range given for the plant.

• Hardiness: Zones 10a–11b¹

How to plant a Beefsteakplant

Zones 10a–11b are the hardiness zones listed for planting this annual outdoors. Mature height is 1–3 ft (0.3–0.91 m). Mature spread is 0.3–1.5 ft (0.08–0.46 m). It grows quickly and aggressively, up to 3 ft (0.91 m) tall and 1.5 ft (0.46 m) wide. Full sun is preferred, with part shade also listed. Good drainage is listed for the site. It is propagated by seed.

• Hardiness: Zones 10a–11b¹

Winter care

Winter hardiness is listed as zones 10a–11b, with no minimum temperature recorded. The plant is classed as an annual. Zones 10a, 10b, 11a and 11b make up the listed range. Zone 10a is the coldest zone in that range. The listing does not describe any winter protection steps.

• Hardiness: Zones 10a–11b¹

How to propagate a Beefsteakplant

Seed is the propagation method listed for this plant. The extension record names seed and no other method. It is classed as an annual, and seed is the only method given. No cuttings, division or grafting appear in the listing. Propagation by seed is the whole of the record for this species.

• Propagation: Seed¹

Common problems

The extension listing reports no serious insect or disease problems. No pests are recorded for this plant. No diseases are recorded for it either. The record names no specific insect. It names no specific disease. Both lists are empty in the record.

• Common pests: ¹
• Common diseases: ¹

Questions and answers

How much sun does beefsteakplant need?

Full sun is preferred, which means six or more hours of direct sunlight a day. Part shade is also listed for the plant. One source notes it is often found in disturbed areas in full sun to part shade.

Which zones is beefsteakplant listed for?

The listing gives zones 10a–11b. It is classed as an annual that is propagated by seed. It reaches 1–3 ft (0.3–0.91 m) tall, and its flowers are white.

Is beefsteakplant native to the United States?

The native-status record lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states. Its native range is recorded as regions coded IND, JAP, KOR and CHC, among others. It is classed as an annual.