Atropurpurea

Atropurpurea is the classic red shiso form of perilla (Perilla frutescens), grown for deep red to dark purple, anthocyanin-rich leaves on an upright plant about 2 feet tall. Warm and spicy in aroma, it is the traditional herb used to flavor and color Japanese pickles such as umeboshi plums and pickled ginger, and to tint other preserved fruits and vegetables. A frost-tender warm-season annual, it wants full sun, moist well-drained soil and temperatures above roughly 18 C for strong growth. A cut-leaf version is sold as Atropurpurea Laciniata.