Magilla Perilla (Perilla 'Magilla')
per-IL-lah 'Magilla'

Annual (usually grown as an annual near you) in the Lamiaceae Family
A bold, coleus-like foliage annual with large purple, pink, and chartreuse leaves -- grown for season-long color in beds and containers, not for its flowers.

'Magilla' is a foliage annual grown for its large, square-stemmed leaves marked with purple, hot pink, lime green, and cream -- a look often compared to coleus. Introduced to the U.S. trade in 2002 by Ball FloraPlant from a selection discovered in Japan, it forms a bushy, upright mound and produces only small, inconspicuous flowers that are usually removed rather than displayed. It is not winter-hardy in the Chicago area and is grown here as a one-season bedding and container annual.

Pros

  • Large, vividly colored purple, pink, and chartreuse foliage all season.
  • Fast-growing and easy from nursery starts.
  • Thrives in full sun to light shade, unlike many colorful-foliage annuals.
  • Deer-resistant and largely trouble-free.

Cons

  • Not winter-hardy in Chicago; grown here as a one-season annual, not a perennial.
  • Needs consistently moist soil, especially in containers.
  • Can become leggy by late summer without pinching.
This plant is probably not winter-hardy outdoors where you live.
Highlights One of the boldest foliage color combinations available in a sun-tolerant annual -- large coleus-like leaves in purple, pink, and chartreuse that hold their color all season.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 24 - 36 inches tall. 18 - 24 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium : Needs consistently moist, well-drained soil; does not tolerate standing water or extended drought, particularly in containers.
Zones 9a - 11b (Usually hardy to 20° F)
Tags Annual, Annual in Chicago, Colorful Foliage, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Full Sun, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Medium, Medium, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Tender Perennial, Thrillers, Variegated Foliage
Bloom Period Late summer into fall; flowers inconspicuous
Flower Color White to pale lavender-blue; not showy
Foliage Color
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Pairs well with other sun-tolerant foliage and flowering annuals such as geraniums, nemesia, sweet potato vine, and trailing lamium for color-contrast combinations.

Photos of This with...

Bounce Violet Impatiens, Bounce White Impatiens, Jade Frost Yellow Archangel, Magilla Perilla
 
Want More photos of this plant? Try Google Image Search!
 


Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 02/05 - 06/22
2024 : 02/08 - 06/15
2023 : 03/02 - 05/21

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!