8 Great Plants for Wow!

Thrilla in 'Magilla'

Talk about gaudy. When 'Magilla' perilla is doing its thing, you can probably spot it from the International Space Station. Though it looks like a coleus, it's actually an incredibly vibrant selection of wild basil (Perilla frutescens). Its leaves combine colors of hot pink, cream, mint green, and burgundy. 'Magilla' exults in hot weather, developing into a dense shrub about three feet tall and wide. You won't find a better plant for a container. You can also mass it in a border. Provide light afternoon shade to avoid sunburning the cream-colored centers of the leaves.

'Magilla' Perilla
Type: annual or frost-tender perennial
Size: 3 feet tall and wide
Light: sun in morning, light shade in afternoon
Soil: moist, fertile, well drained
Water: regular
Pests: none serious