If you have to HortPark recently, you could have noticed some green bushes producing interesting shrimp-like inflorescences at the tip of their branches. Because of the shrimp-like appearance of the inflorescences , these plants, which are botanically known as Justicia brandegeana, are known commonly as the shrimp plant! This Justicia species was named after the American botanist, Townshend Stith Brandegee.
The shrimp plant is a member of Acanthaceae family and sometimes referred via two other common names, which include false hop amd shrimp bush. Quite a number of ornamental shrubs that are common garden plants in Singapore come from this family. Some medicinal plants that are used locally in folk medicine are also members of the Acanthaceae family.
Native to Mexico, the slightly curved inflorescences of the shrimp plant grown in HortPark have rather dark reddish orange bracts that overlap one another. There are cultivars with yellow and green coloured bracts. The true flowers are hidden between the bracts and they peek out from between the bracts when they bloom. Flowers appear from the end nearest to the stem outwards the tip of the inflorescence.
As a plant, the shrimp plant grows as a rather short shrub with a rather lanky habit. It is recomended to grow several plants close together and in the garden, the shrimp plant can be used to create a border or grown inside a flower bed. To prevent plants from becoming straggly, it is best to prune them periodically to encourage these plants to adopt a more compact and bushy growth habit. Pruning will also promote the production of new flowers as buds appear on new growth.
The shrimp plant prefers to be grown in fertile and well drained soil. Fertilise regularly and do so especially after pruning to encourage new growth. The location for growing the shrimp plant should be exposed to direct sunshine as this plant is a sun-lover. Some individuals who live in highrise apartments face problems trying to rebloom this plant, probably due to the lack of sufficient duration of direct sunshine. Plants also need to be watered generously during the hot season. Apply a layer of mulch around the base of the plant to keep roots cool and moist. New plants are easily propagated from stem-cuttings.
