Beefsteak Plant

(Perilla frutescens)

 

Color Photographs: Copyright Nearctica.com, Inc.

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Beefsteak Plant (Perilla frutescens)

Alien: Native of India.

Identification: Flowers pink to purple, bell-shaped, open, the lower petal lobe slightly larger than the other lobes. Interior dotted with purple. Flowers arranged in a terminal spike or branched panicle, the spike appearing square. Stem square, heavily tinted with purple. Leaves, particularly lower leaves, large, ovate. Outer margin heavily toothed. Veins on underside sometimes accented with purple. Plant 1 to 3 feet in height.

Distribution: Throughout the eastern and central United States.

Habitat: Beefsteak Plant is found in a variety of disturbed habitats, although apparently favoring moist soils.

Flowering period: July to October.

Beefsteak Plant (Perilla frutescens)

Similar Species:

The bell shaped, open pink to purple flowers, the large, ovate leaves, and the purple stem should easily identify this species.

Similar Species

No Similar Species