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Perennials - Perilla
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'Q' (Question)  (December) I bought a plant this summer when I was out of town and I can't remember what they said it was. It seems it started with an M and it looked just like coleus. It has no comb and it grows much taller. It has the fuchsia middle and burgundy surrounding with green veins barely showing. The plant went crazy around my mailbox and I need to know if it will die or come back?

'A' (Answer)  My guess is the plant is a Perilla -- a new variety called Magilla. It has showy coleus-like foliage in hot pink, green and deep plum shades. I is considered an annual. The solid purple Perilla -- which looks just like purple ruffles basil, can reseed and come back prolifically. I don't think the Magilla will come back as easily. If it hasn't been nipped by the frost, you could take cuttings to root for next spring, or try digging the plant up and storing it in your garage to protect from freezing. Any plant that was going to be brought inside your house should have moved indoors in October at the latest. Exposing plants to low night temperatures and then moving them into a static indoor temperature is not easy on them. You will probably be better off buying a new one next year-they do grow quite rapidly during the warm summer months.


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