05/29/2026
The answer to Wednesdays, "What's That Flower?" is .........
Red Shrimp Plant ! aka Justicia brandegeana.
It's an ornamental evergreen shrub, known for its colorful flowers that resemble shrimp, hence its name. There are varieties available in shades of red (Justicia brandegeana), purple/pink (Justicia scheidweileri) or yellow/golden bronze (Pachystachys lutea).
The pollinators love this plant for its bright colorful long lasting blooms. It grows to about 3-5 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide. It's native to Mexico and Central America, and prefers zones 8-11. It is sensitive to frost and will die back, but should return in the spring. Prefers morning sun/partial shade, full sun will fade the blooms.
I didn’t want another plant to fuss over during our winter cold snaps, so I keep mine in half whiskey barrels, making it easy to move them into the greenhouse for the season. They bounce back and bloom so much earlier for me this way.
