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Green Ohba Shiso Seeds

Scientific name Perilla frutescens var. crispa

About this variety

Green Ohba shiso puts fresh, aromatic leaves within easy reach of the kitchen. This green Japanese shiso has broad, relatively flat leaves with serrated edges and green undersides. Pick them young for a bright, earthy accent in rice dishes, noodles, salads and garnishes, or use larger leaves for wraps and tempura. Regular pinching encourages a fuller plant and...

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Alliance of Native Seedkeepers  |  SKU: HB118
$200 USD

At a glance

The facts most gardeners need first

View the full variety record
100 minimum seeds per packet
Gardener experience

Moderate

Germination difficulty

Moderate

Germination time

7–21 Days at 60–75 °F seed-zone soil temperature

  • Germination
    7–21 Daysa seed-zone soil temperature of 60–75 °F
  • Maturity
    About 60–70 days from sowing for established leaf harvest; pick tender leaves as the plants become large enough.
  • Sun
    Full - Partial Sun
  • Support and spacing
    No support needed · space 12 in · rows 18 in
  • Growth habit
    Upright or erect · Annual · 31–36 in tall
  • Best use
    Fresh garnishes, rice and noodle dishes, wraps, tempura and kitchen herb containers.
Secure checkout Details
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Triple-tested seed qualityRegular quality and germination checks support every packet.

We regularly test seed quality and germination as lots move through storage and packing. We stand behind the seed we send and want customers to contact us when a packet does not perform as reasonably expected.

1-year seed warrantyCoverage begins on the date of purchase.

When properly stored, planted, and cared for, we guarantee reasonable germination and true-to-type growth for one year from the date of purchase. Conditions outside our control—including extreme weather, pests, unsuitable storage, and gardener error—are excluded. Contact us when something is not right so we can review the situation and work toward a replacement, refund, or another fair resolution.

Non-GMO / BE seed policyWe do not buy or sell genetically engineered or bioengineered seed.

Every seed variety we sell is non-GMO.

USDA’s National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard defines bioengineered foods as containing detectable genetic material modified through in vitro recombinant DNA methods in ways not achievable through conventional breeding or found in nature.

  • Hybrid means parent lines were conventionally crossed; hybrid does not mean GMO.
  • Heirloom and open-pollinated describe how a variety is maintained and reproduced.
  • Organic certification is separate and is shown only when verified for the individual product.

Read how we define heirloom, hybrid, and GMO/BE seed · USDA BE Standard

Packed in Colerain, North CarolinaPrepared in our seed room for gardens across the country.

Seeds are packed and shipped from Colerain, North Carolina. Our packets use forestry-certified paper, and we use recyclable paper mailers where appropriate. AONSK is also a 1% for the Planet partner while continuing to reduce waste in packing and fulfillment.

Garden tools

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Variety field guide

What to expect from Green Ohba Shiso Seeds

Broad green leaves with a bright herbal aroma for fresh Japanese-style garnishes, wraps and kitchen harvests.

Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record

Green Ohba shiso puts fresh, aromatic leaves within easy reach of the kitchen. This green Japanese shiso has broad, relatively flat leaves with serrated edges and green undersides. Pick them young for a bright, earthy accent in rice dishes, noodles, salads and garnishes, or use larger leaves for wraps and tempura. Regular pinching encourages a fuller plant and a continuing supply of tender growth.

A handful of fresh leaves brings the garden straight to the table.

Variety and background

Shiso is a culinary form of Perilla frutescens in the mint family, Lamiaceae. Green Ohba, also called Ao Shiso, belongs to the Japanese green-leaf cooking tradition. Its green leaf undersides help distinguish it from forms with purple coloring. This is an open-pollinated annual herb; no named breeder or precise introduction date is claimed for this lot.

Planting and growing

Start indoors or sow outdoors after frost danger has passed. Press seed into a moist, fine seed-starting mix and barely cover it so light can reach the seed. Aim for 65–70°F and allow 7–21 days for emergence. Keep the surface consistently moist without waterlogging. Give seedlings strong light, then harden them gradually before planting out.

Grow in full sun to partial shade in fertile, well-drained soil. Space plants about 12 inches apart, with 18 inches between rows for a regularly harvested leaf crop; give unpinched plants more room. Green Ohba can reach roughly 24–36 inches tall. Water during dry spells and pinch above a leaf pair to encourage branching.

Harvest and use

Begin regular leaf picking around 60–70 days from sowing once plants are well established. Take individual tender leaves or short shoot tips, leaving enough foliage for regrowth. Fresh leaves offer their best aroma when used soon after picking. Add chopped leaves near the end of cooking, or serve fresh with rice, vegetables and noodle dishes.

Saving seed

Reserve healthy, true-to-type plants if saving seed. Keep different shiso varieties separated when varietal purity matters. Let selected flower clusters ripen and dry, then collect before the small seeds scatter. Dry thoroughly and store labeled seed cool and dry; use fresh seed and check germination after storage. Remove unwanted flowers and volunteers because shiso can self-sow freely.

Garden toolsOpen the garden-fit planner, planting-window questions, or soil calculator only when useful

Uses this product’s recorded growing information. Local weather, soil, and garden conditions may vary.

Garden-fit planning for this variety

Will Green Ohba Shiso Seeds fit your garden?

Use your space, timing, light, soil, water, and growing preferences to make a more informed choice. Start with the essentials, then open only the detail groups that matter to you.

Rules-based · no AI · optional answers

Add an optional ZIP code and planting date for a broad frost-window check.Use local forecasts and measured soil temperature for final planting decisions.
1Essential fitTiming, light, and space
2Temperature and exposureOptional microclimate detail
3Soil, drainage, and waterRoot-zone readiness
4Questions for this garden seedCrop-specific decisions
5Seed-starting fit and patienceMatch the propagation work
Recorded product profileSome experience is helpfulModerate or temperature-sensitiveRead why
Soil test, pH, drainage, and amendment calculator Have a laboratory soil report? Enter pH, nutrients, texture, bed size, and site observations here. Open soil tools
Recorded soil typeLoamy
Recorded pH range6.0–6.5
Water needsModerate
LightFull - Partial Sun

Laboratory report interpreter

Soil readiness for Green Ohba Shiso Seeds

Perilla frutescens var. crispa

Enter only the values your report provides. The result compares them with this crop’s recorded needs and keeps laboratory recommendations authoritative.

Core report valuesStart here
Advanced laboratory valuesOptional method-aware detail

Full growing record

Complete growing and seedkeeping record

Starting and plantingSeed preparation, sowing, germination, transplanting, spacing, and early establishment
Start indoors or sow outdoors after frost danger has passed. Press seed into a moist, fine seed-starting mix and barely cover it so light can reach the seed. Aim for 65–70°F and allow 7–21 days for emergence. Keep the surface consistently moist without waterlogging. Give seedlings strong light, then harden them gradually before planting out.

Grow in full sun to partial shade in fertile, well-drained soil. Space plants about 12 inches apart, with 18 inches between rows for a regularly harvested leaf crop; give unpinched plants more room. Green Ohba can reach roughly 24–36 inches tall. Water during dry spells and pinch above a leaf pair to encourage branching.
Season-long growing guideWater, fertility, support, weather response, pollination, containers, and care through maturity
Start indoors or sow outdoors after frost danger has passed. Press seed into a moist, fine seed-starting mix and barely cover it so light can reach the seed. Aim for 65–70°F and allow 7–21 days for emergence. Keep the surface consistently moist without waterlogging. Give seedlings strong light, then harden them gradually before planting out.

Grow in full sun to partial shade in fertile, well-drained soil. Space plants about 12 inches apart, with 18 inches between rows for a regularly harvested leaf crop; give unpinched plants more room. Green Ohba can reach roughly 24–36 inches tall. Water during dry spells and pinch above a leaf pair to encourage branching.
Harvest, storage, and usesRecognizing maturity, harvesting cleanly, handling and storage, kitchen uses, and garden roles

Harvest and storage

Begin regular leaf picking around 60–70 days from sowing once plants are well established. Take individual tender leaves or short shoot tips, leaving enough foliage for regrowth. Fresh leaves offer their best aroma when used soon after picking. Add chopped leaves near the end of cooking, or serve fresh with rice, vegetables and noodle dishes.

Reserve healthy, true-to-type plants if saving seed. Keep different shiso varieties separated when varietal purity matters. Let selected flower clusters ripen and dry, then collect before the small seeds scatter. Dry thoroughly and store labeled seed cool and dry; use fresh seed and check germination after storage. Remove unwanted flowers and volunteers because shiso can self-sow freely.

Uses and garden roles

Begin regular leaf picking around 60–70 days from sowing once plants are well established. Take individual tender leaves or short shoot tips, leaving enough foliage for regrowth. Fresh leaves offer their best aroma when used soon after picking. Add chopped leaves near the end of cooking, or serve fresh with rice, vegetables and noodle dishes.
Seed savingSelection, pollination, isolation, full maturity, cleaning, drying, labeling, and storage
Reserve healthy, true-to-type plants if saving seed. Keep different shiso varieties separated when varietal purity matters. Let selected flower clusters ripen and dry, then collect before the small seeds scatter. Dry thoroughly and store labeled seed cool and dry; use fresh seed and check germination after storage. Remove unwanted flowers and volunteers because shiso can self-sow freely.
Pests, diseases, and troubleshootingPrevention, diagnosis, environmental disorders, common damage, and first-response checks
A dry sowing surface or deeply buried seed can reduce emergence. Inspect tender growth for aphids and check for slug damage in damp conditions. Improve airflow and avoid persistently saturated soil. Perilla can spread beyond cultivation: keep it contained, remove unwanted seedlings, and do not allow it to establish in pasture where it can harm livestock.
Frequently asked questionsDecision-focused answers that supplement the detailed guides above
Is this purple shiso? No; Green Ohba has green leaves and green undersides.
Should I bury the seed deeply? No. Barely cover it and retain light at the seed surface.
How do I get a bushier plant? Pinch tips above leaf pairs and harvest regularly.
Is it grown for flowers? This packet is for a culinary leaf herb.
History and provenanceBotanical identity, cultivar history, regional or cultural context, uncertainty, and source records

Scientific name: Perilla frutescens var. crispa

Common name: Green Shiso

Cultivar or variety: Green Ohba

Shiso is a culinary form of Perilla frutescens in the mint family, Lamiaceae. Green Ohba, also called Ao Shiso, belongs to the Japanese green-leaf cooking tradition. Its green leaf undersides help distinguish it from forms with purple coloring. This is an open-pollinated annual herb; no named breeder or precise introduction date is claimed for this lot.

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