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'''Justicia brandegeeana''' ('Mexican Shrimp Plant' or 'Shrimp Plant'; syn. ''Beloperone guttata'' Brandeg.) is an evergreen perennial shrub in the genus ''Justicia'', native to Mexico.
It grows to 1 m tall (rarely more) with spindly limbs. The leaves are oval, green, 3-7.5 cm long. The flowers are white, extending from red bracts which look a bit like a shrimp, hence the shrub's common name, shrimp flower.
The species is named after the American botanist Townshend Stith Brandegee (1843-1925); the scientific name is commonly seen mis-spelled "''brandegeana''".

Contents

Cultivation and uses

References

Cultivation and uses

The shrimp plant, a common ornamental shrub, thrives in the shade in tropical areas and can be propagated by stem cuttings. It does best in well-drained sandy or loamy soil, but is generally low maintenance and drought-tolerant. The flowers fade somewhat in the full sun.
The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies. A number of cultivars are available, with different flower bract colors, including yellow, pink and dark brick-red.
It is naturalized in Florida.

References

★ USDA Plant Profile: ''Justicia brandegeeana''

★ NCBI 138115 2002-08-21