| Shrimp plant | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Justicia brandegeana | ||||||||||||||
The shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeana) is an evergreen perennial shrub with spindly limbs, oval green leaves, and white flowers extending from red bracts which look a bit like shrimp--hence the shrub's common name. The bush grows to four or five feet tall; the leaves are oval and usually about 2 1/2 inches long.
The bush is native to North America, thrives in the shade in tropical areas, and can be propagated by stem cuttings. The shrimp plant is a common ornamental shrub and 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[?].
Reference
NCBI 138115 (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?srchmode=5&name=138115) 2002-08-21