In the mid-Atlantic people seem to be noticing large patches of beefsteak plant, Perilla frutescens, this year. This mint plant is used as an Asian herb and ornamental with its ruffly purplish leaves. I’ve seen it growing in sun to part sun along field edges and woodland paths. It grows very densely, but no studies on its potential impacts are available yet. John Peter Thompson has compiled a great bibliography on this plant for those of you interested in investigating it further, http://ipetrus.blogspot.com/2012/10/invasive-wild-sesame-perilla-mint-beef.html.
