As the summer season winds down, we see that our gardens are full of plants that have self-seeded like never before. However, not all are bad, and one standout is the Shiso (Perilla frutescens).

An annual Japanese herb from the mint family, ours are red/purple/green in color. They add lots of interest to the garden beds, and have done so for years and years.

They are easy to control since they’re not deep-rooted. They pull up easily, may be dug up and planted in other locations, or shared with neighbors.

But a special treat is that they root easily in water. At this time of the year, we begin to bring some cuttings indoors that will ultimately get planted in potting soil to give us colorful winter houseplants.

Some people use Shiso leaves to make tea or in their cooking. But I never have. Maybe this coming winter will be a good time to look up some new recipes!