beefsteak plant: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Horticultural/Culinary
Quick answer
What does “beefsteak plant” mean?
A plant, Perilla frutescens, with aromatic leaves used as a herb and garnish, named for the dark red colour of some cultivars resembling raw beef.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A plant, Perilla frutescens, with aromatic leaves used as a herb and garnish, named for the dark red colour of some cultivars resembling raw beef.
A common name for Perilla frutescens, a member of the mint family, cultivated in East Asia for its edible leaves and seeds. In horticulture, it is often grown for its ornamental purple-red foliage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare in both varieties. Slight preference for 'Perilla' or 'shiso' (the Japanese term) in culinary contexts, especially in the US where exposure to Japanese cuisine is more widespread.
Connotations
In both, it is a descriptive, somewhat old-fashioned or folk name for a plant better known by its botanical or borrowed names.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general English. More likely encountered in specialist gardening books, seed catalogues, or historical texts than in everyday speech.
Grammar
How to Use “beefsteak plant” in a Sentence
The [ADJECTIVE] beefsteak plant VERB in the garden.Beefsteak plant is also known as [SYNONYM].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “beefsteak plant” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The gardener decided to beefsteak-plant the border for autumn colour.
American English
- She plans to beefsteak-plant along the patio edge.
adjective
British English
- The garden had a lovely beefsteak-plant display.
American English
- He prefers the beefsteak-plant variety for containers.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in botanical and horticultural texts as a common name alongside the Latin binomial.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used by keen gardeners discussing plant varieties.
Technical
Used in gardening guides, seed catalogues, and ethnobotanical descriptions.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “beefsteak plant”
- Spelling as 'beef stake plant'.
- Using it as a general term for any plant with red leaves.
- Assuming it tastes like beef.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The name is purely descriptive of the leaf colour in some varieties. The flavour is aromatic, minty, and slightly citrusy.
Yes. 'Beefsteak plant' is a common English name for Perilla frutescens. 'Shiso' is the Japanese name for the same plant, specifically the culinary varieties.
Yes, the leaves of Perilla frutescens (beefsteak plant/shiso) are edible and used extensively in Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese cooking.
It is generally considered an easy annual to grow in full sun and well-drained soil, often self-seeding readily.
A plant, Perilla frutescens, with aromatic leaves used as a herb and garnish, named for the dark red colour of some cultivars resembling raw beef.
Beefsteak plant is usually technical/horticultural/culinary in register.
Beefsteak plant: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbiːfsteɪk ˌplɑːnt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbifˌsteɪk ˌplænt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is a literal compound noun, not an idiom.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a plant with large, red, juicy leaves that look like a stack of raw beefsteaks.
Conceptual Metaphor
PLANT IS FOOD (based on visual resemblance to meat).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary reason for the name 'beefsteak plant'?