(I'm not Vlad :-).) It's probably perilla (Perilla frutescens).

G'Day!
(i'm not Alphie :-).)

That's Japanese SHISO, a culenary herb. It is an annual mint - and yes, it is a perilla. So, it will self-seed - vigerously. Next year you should have a patch of it.

After that, please do be vigilent about pulling up "strays." Happily, it is EASY to weed out; the purple leaves make it easy to spot, and when you pull the plant up, it is gone; no re-sprouting from deep roots or anything nasty like that.

You may also find a very similar plant with a bit more puckering and toothier leaf edge; that's the Korean Beefsteak Leaf plant, essentailly a variety of Shiso (or vice-versa).

In theory you could overwinter shiso indoors, but no need to bother.

If it fails to self-sow (due to lots of mulch or you being good and responsible and not risking letting those seeds get out n to the wild) i can brign seeds to the fall swap or plants to the spring swap for you and anyone else who lets me know they want some.

Oh, and let me know if you'd like a marker for it; i can make you one with Shiso in English and Japanese.

Happy gardening,
-vlad

I got some of this at the spring swap too. It is a very lovely plant. I have it in a pot with some creeping jenny - nice color contrast. I don't cook much, so it's more of an ornamental for me. :-) Thanks vlad!

Oh, come on, Vlad.
Let's be honest here:

This absolutely gorgeous, purple plant is a vigorous, aggressive, evil, plant that will completely take over hill sides, gardens, concrete parking lots, even to the point it will grow out of your ears if you stay outside in the sun too long.

WATCH it, because although it's ornamental, it's probably one of the most invasive plants I know I've ever experienced. And I'm talking in relation to poison ivy, brambles, mile-a-minute vine, trumpet flower, lychnis, helianthis, cleome, (stop me) mildew, crab grass, dandilions, ... enough. You've probably got my point.

But boy, is it beautiful!

Christine