Economic Value
Perilla oil can be extracted from the beefsteak plant.
Garden Use
The beefsteak plant can be grown in drought-tolerant Mediterranean, herb, and cottage gardens in beds and borders, but also in containers, pots, and window boxes. It is prized as a decorative and edible plant in Asian cuisine, and valued for its fast growth and heat tolerance. Companion plants of the beefsteak plant include the Cordyline, petunia, and sweet potato vine.
Interesting Facts
Legend has it that a man suffered from abdominal pain from overeating crab. When the divine doctor Hua Tuo saw him, he immediately asked people to go dig up a purple leaf for the man to eat. After a while, the man’s abdominal pain subsided. This purple leaf is the beefsteak plant, which is good for taking with cold food.
Name Story
Beefsteak plant: It's called Beefsteak plant, not because it looks like steak or tastes like steak, it is due to its darkest variety for being as red as steak.
Korean perilla: Like other plants from the Perilla genus, this plant is often known as "perilla". It is also known as Korean perilla because it is widely cultivated in Korea and used in Korean cuisine.
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