Shrimp Plant (Justicia brandegeeana)

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit:	Shrub
Life cycle:	Perennial
Sun Requirements:	Full Sun to Partial Shade Partial or Dappled Shade
Water Preferences:	Mesic
Soil pH Preferences:	Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5) Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Minimum cold hardiness:	Zone 8b -9.4 °C (15 °F) to -6.7 °C (20 °F)
Maximum recommended zone:	Zone 11
Plant Height:	3-5 feet
Plant Spread:	3 feet
Leaves:	Evergreen Other: Pubescent, downy, hairy
Flowers:	Showy
Flower Color:	Brown Multi-Color: Pink, russet, and white Other: drooping spikes of dark red to rusty brown bracts, each bract enclosing a tongue-like pink and white flower
Bloom Size:	Under 1"
Flower Time:	Late spring or early summer Summer Late summer or early fall
Underground structures:	Taproot
Suitable Locations:	Houseplant
Uses:	Windbreak or Hedge
Wildlife Attractant:	Butterflies Hummingbirds
Resistances:	Deer Resistant Rabbit Resistant Humidity tolerant
Propagation: Other methods:	Cuttings: Stem Division
Pollinators:	Other: Hummingbirds
Containers:	Suitable in 3 gallon or larger Needs excellent drainage in pots
Awards and Recognitions:	RHS AGM

Common names

Shrimp Plant
Mexican Shrimp Plant
False Hop

Botanical names

Accepted: Justicia brandegeeana
Synonym: Beloperone guttata
Synonym: Justicia straminea

Photo Gallery

Location: Hamilton Square Perennial Garden, Historic City Cemetery, Sacramento CA.
Date: 2015-05-20
Zone 9b. At it's best.

Uploaded by HamiltonSquare

Location: all photos from my garden
Date: 2014-06-25

Uploaded by poisondartfrog

Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2021-02-23

Uploaded by sunkissed

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2019-05-08
Shrimp Plant 011

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Location: all photos from my garden
Date: 2015-10-25

Uploaded by poisondartfrog

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Uploaded by RoseA32

Uploaded by aikenforflowers

Uploaded by Lucichar

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2016-04-01

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Hanbury Botanical Gardens, Mortola Inferiore, Italy
Date: 2017-06-13

Uploaded by cliftoncat

Uploaded by piksihk

Location: San Antonio, Texas
Date: 2022-04-03

Uploaded by sedumzz

Uploaded by GaNinFl

Location: Orangeburg, SC
Date: 2015-11-19
Shrimp plant bloom

Uploaded by Deebie

Uploaded by Monetwwqi

Location: Colima, Mexico (Zone 11)
Date: 2014-03-08
Justicia brandegeeana (Red Shrimp Plant). The hummingbirds love

Uploaded by vitrsna

Uploaded by Huertayjardineria

Uploaded by Monetwwqi

Location: Flamingo Gardens in Davie, Florida
Date: 2022-02-23
a patch of plants in bloom

Uploaded by ILPARW

Location: Flamingo Gardens in Davie, Florida
Date: 2022-02-23
close-up of flowers and foliage

Uploaded by ILPARW

Uploaded by JebobaTea

Uploaded by sedumzz

Location: Youngsville, LA
Date: 2015-05-18
By tabbycat

Uploaded by tabbycat

Location: Los Angeles Arboretum, Arcadia, California
Date: 2014-04-05

Uploaded by Kelli

Location: Merritt Island, Florida
Date: 2022-06-30
Ombre red to yellow blooms easily propagated from stem cuttings

Uploaded by MySecretIslandGarden

Uploaded by TexasPlumeria87

Location: Orto Botanico di Cagliari - Sardinia
Date: 2017-09-10

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Uploaded by RoseA32

Location: Coastal San Diego County
Date: 2018-09-12

Uploaded by carlysuko

Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2017-07-27
Justicia brandegeeana - Shrimp Plant 001

Uploaded by dawiz1753

Location: Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, Gainesville, FL
Date: 2019-05-15

Uploaded by carlissa904

Location: Zilker Botanical Garden, Austin, Texas
Date: 2022-04-05

Uploaded by sedumzz

Location: Bloomington, Illinois
Date: 2012-06-18
Shrimp Plant trained as a topiary.

Uploaded by BookerC1

Uploaded by piksihk

Location: Sumatera Indonesia
Date: 2018-02-04
lime green variety

Uploaded by tofitropic

Location: Gulf-coast Texas
Date: 2015-02-22

Uploaded by value4dollars

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: San Antonio TX
Date: 2017-07-27

Uploaded by ricelg

Uploaded by carlysuko

Location: Botanical Garden of Dresden
Date: 2014-05-09

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2-10-19

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2017-02-24
Colorful bracts and white blooms

Uploaded by plantladylin

Uploaded by GaNinFl

Location: Botanical Garden, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Date: 2014-12-12

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: Pacific Northwest, zone 8
Date: Apr 29, 2012

Uploaded by valleylynn

Uploaded by christinereid54

Uploaded by Kelli

Location: Sugar Mill Botanical Gardens, Port Orange, Florida
Date: 2013-03-01

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2017-01-20
Photo taken before daylight, using flash

Uploaded by plantladylin

Uploaded by treehugger

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2011-05-21

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Fairfax, VA | December 2022
Date: 2022-12-28

Uploaded by sedumzz

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Uploaded by carlysuko

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Uploaded by purpleinopp

Location: western Oregon
Date: 2016-02-27

Uploaded by duane456

Location: Centennial Park Conservatory, Toronto, ON, Canada
Date: 2013-03-16

Uploaded by Anne

Uploaded by valleylynn

Uploaded by valleylynn

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: RHS Wisley, Surrey, UK.
Date: 2022-08-04

Uploaded by RachaelHunter

Location: Bloomington, Illinois
Date: 2012-06-18
Close-up of the drooping blooms.

Uploaded by BookerC1

Uploaded by piksihk

Uploaded by Lauraleight

Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2017-07-27

Uploaded by plantladylin

Uploaded by piksihk

Location: Mérida, Yucatán, México
Date: 2012-05-03

Uploaded by extranjera

Uploaded by robertduval14

Location: Palm Coast, Florida
Date: 2012-10-22
Photo taken at Washington Oaks State Park, Palm Coast, Florida

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Botanischer Garten Berlin
Date: 2023-05-11

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Location: Brevard County, Florida
Date: May 25, 2011

Uploaded by plantladylin

This plant is tagged in:

Comments:

Posted by plantladylin (Sebastian, Florida - Zone 10a) on Sep 19, 2011 11:40 AM concerning plant:

Justicia brandegeeana (Shrimp Plant) is an evergreen perennial shrub native to Mexico. It prefers a partially shaded location and should be pruned regularly to keep the weak branches from taking on a leggy appearance.

Reply to this comment
Posted by GardenGuyAZ (Chandler, AZ; 85225 - Zone 9b) on Dec 3, 2011 9:43 AM concerning plant:

This is a wonderful plant, and it does very well here in the hot deserts of metro-Phoenix, on the north side of my house. It literally starts blooming in the spring and does not stop till the first frost, if we get one. It's in shade all day. In the summer, it gets most of its water from the air conditioning unit, so it doesn't seem to need a ton of extra watering. I can't say enough good things about the Shrimp Plant, Justicia brandegeeana.

Reply to this comment
Posted by Kabby (Lowndesboro, AL - Zone 8a) on Oct 7, 2016 5:39 PM concerning plant:

I have this in a northern protected bed and it survived in zone 8a this last winter. This bed gets morning sun and the justicia thrives. Agree with another commenter about stems breaking easily and sprawling. It is easy to root with rooting hormone and potting mix.

Reply to this comment
Posted by extranjera (Mérida, Yucatán, México - Zone 13a) on May 3, 2012 5:21 PM concerning plant:

Fabulous plant! It blooms all year here in the tropics. I have it in full sun until early afternoon, not a lot of soil under it as it is on a rocky base, excellent drainage. It was very sad looking until I discovered the slugs were eating it and now that I've put out dishes of beer and conquered the slugs it is coming back. I keep it cut back to fit the space and it is covered in blooms all the time.

It sprawls and the branches are easily broken. I've got it staked on some bamboo and that has helped keep it from drowning in the rainy season.

Reply to this comment
Posted by ricelg (Hill Country TX - Zone 8b) on Jul 27, 2017 5:36 PM concerning plant:

I planted this plant this spring in a bed that receives mostly shade. It has done great, blooming multiple times. I'm told the pollinators like it but I haven't yet seen any hummingbird or bee activity by it. I did take a cutting about a month ago, checked on it today and it has nice roots and looks great - so I am hoping to have a couple more next year!

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Plant Events from our members
piksihk	On October 1, 2019	Bloomed Front and back HW
piksihk	On August 1, 2018	Bloomed frt bed under pecan tree; and round bed
piksihk	On December 11, 2016	Bloomed
piksihk	On May 11, 2016	Transplanted Several rooted cuttings - front bed@HW. One in circular bed
piksihk	On January 2, 2016	Miscellaneous Event cutting rooted
piksihk	On October 3, 2015	Miscellaneous Event Rooting cutting
piksihk	On April 16, 2015	Bloomed
carpathiangirl	On October 12, 2019	Obtained plant Red Sentinel, thanks Trudy!
tabbycat	On April 15, 2024	Bloomed Plant in ground by crepe near gate. 1st bloom of 2024. A favorite I will pot up soon.
tabbycat	On April 1, 2022	Bloomed Never really stopped in Winter covered. I dug small clump not doing as well by crepe m. & potted & its doing very well there.
tabbycat	On May 25, 2021	Bloomed East 1 of the 2 has 1st bloom
tabbycat	On April 6, 2021	Transplanted Divided in half & put on both sides of crepe myrtle in west of arch bed
tabbycat	On March 15, 2021	Plant emerged All new growth
tabbycat	On February 14, 2021	Winterized Moved pot into garage for 2-15-21 freeze

» Post your own event for this plant

Discussion Threads about this plant

Thread Title	Last Reply	Replies
Pic needs to be removed by MySecretIslandGarden	Aug 27, 2022 11:57 AM	7

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Justicia Shrimp Plant (Justicia brandegeeana)

Justicia
Shrimp Plant (Justicia brandegeeana)