| Shrimp plant | ||||||||||||
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Justicia brandegeana Ref: NCBI 138115 2002-08-19 |
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 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.