One of my favorite plants is having an identity crisis. First it was Belaperone guttata. Then its name changed to Justicia brandegeeana. Now it is Phlogacanthus guttatus. I’m going against normal practices to call it by its common name, Mexican Shrimp Plant, because it is easier to say and spell. This is a tropical beauty that is cold hardy only to zone 9 (or 8, in a sheltered location). I grow it outdoors in my zone 7 garden during the summer months, then bring it indoors as a houseplant during winter. Though it is considered a shrub, it has never grown above thirty inches tall in my containers.
The plant itself is ungainly, with skinny stems and bland leaves. But, oh, the flowers! It’s not hard to understand how the common name emerged. The unusual salmon-colored flower bracts, accented with touches of yellow and green, form an elongated tubular shape that looks like a cooked shrimp. The true flowers extend from the end of this tube, a couple of white petals with deep red dots There are other bract colors. I occasionally see a yellow-flowered form in the indoor garden center at local home improvement stores. These structurally unique flowers are a favorite of hummingbirds, second only to Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’ in the Mary Snoddy garden. Butterflies like them, too. Flowers last a long time and gradually turn dark when spent. They will drop off by themselves if not removed by the gardener.
Grow Shrimp Plant in fertile, well-drained soil. It likes high humidity but will not tolerate wet feet. It is an understory shrub; morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal. If it gets too leggy or stops blooming well, cut it off just above ground level. It will regenerate quickly. Trimming back a few stems at a time will be less drastic but will result in a fuller plant. The trimmings can be used to propagate new plants. For rooting success, each cutting should have at least four leaves. A rooting hormone helps. Large clumps can also be divided. The stems of older plants tend to be somewhat brittle and may break if exposed to strong winds.
For areas with hard freezes, bring Mexican Shrimp Plant indoors during the cold months. Place it in a bright window and give it a drink of liquid fertilizer. It will continue to flower throughout winter. When the plant is moved indoors, be alert for aphids, spider mites or whiteflies.
