Fauna
Plant

Beefsteak Plant

Perilla frutescens

Also known as Shiso, Korean Perilla, Perilla Mint, Purple Mint

Beefsteak plant is a fragrant annual herb recognizable by its distinctly squared stems, opposite toothed leaves, and rich coloration ranging from deep emerald to purplish-bronze. Cultivated across East and Southeast Asia for millennia as an oilseed and aromatic culinary staple, it thrives in open sun and nutrient-rich soils. Escaped populations readily colonize disturbed pastures and riparian corridors, where potent chemical compounds make it unpalatable and hazardous to foraging herbivores.

AromaticAnnualInvasive
Beefsteak Plant reference1 / 7
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthesis)
Predators
  • Aphids
  • Flea beetles
  • Spider mites
ThreatsPasture management, mechanical mowing, selective herbicide application
HabitatsPastures, woodland borders, roadsides, disturbed riverbanks, agricultural fields
Life spanAnnual (1 year)
Classification
  1. OrderLamiales
  2. FamilyLamiaceae
  3. GenusPerilla
  4. SpeciesPerilla frutescens
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Highly toxic to livestock and pets if grazed; safe to observe from a distance.
Why it is dangerous
Contains perilla ketone, a lung toxin that induces acute respiratory distress syndrome and fatal pulmonary edema in cattle, horses, and sheep.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognize by its four-angled square stems, deeply veined ovate leaves with purple tinges, and pungent anise-like scent.
What to do
Keep pastured livestock and pets well away from wild colonies, and wear gloves if hand-pulling unwanted plants.
Responsible observation
  • Foliage Inspection: Look for paired, coarsely serrated leaves and distinctly four-angled green or purplish stems.
  • Bloom Timing: Check sunny clearings and pasture margins in late summer to catch the subtle spikes of tiny pale flowers.
  • Livestock Protection: Fence off dense stands in grazing paddocks to prevent domestic stock from chewing the toxic leaves.
Related species
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