Britton

Britton is a striking bicolor perilla (Perilla frutescens) whose deeply crinkled, soft-serrated leaves are green above and purple-red beneath, on a larger, bushy upright plant reaching 18 to 30 inches. Its flavor is brighter and milder than typical red shiso, herbal and basil-mint-like with vendor-noted hints of anise, cinnamon, clove, cumin and citrus. It grows in full sun to light shade in well-drained soil and shows its best green-to-purple contrast in temperatures below about 85 F. Johnny lists roughly 80 to 85 days to maturity, though leaves can be picked earlier.