Braided shrimp plant with a plaited trunk and drooping coppery bracts in a terracotta pot

Braided Shrimp Plant

Justicia brandegeeana
Categories:
Shrubs  ·  
Desert Shrubs
Light
Morning sun / afternoon shade
Water
Moderate, consistent moisture; water deeply when the top 1–2 inches of soil dry. Containers may need frequent watering during Phoenix summers. Reduce watering in winter; avoid soggy soil.
Size
2-4 ft tall × 2-3 ft wide
Habit
Mounded – spreading shrub
Toxicity
Non-toxic
Description
A tropical shrub with arching, shrimp-shaped flower bracts, trained with braided stems into a small ornamental tree. The braided form is a training style, not a separate variety.
Bloom Time
Spring through fall
Deciduous / Evergreen
Evergreen
Special Features
Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds
Growth Rate
Moderate
Growth Habit
Mounded – spreading shrub
Mature Size
2-4 ft tall × 2-3 ft wide
Flower Color
Copper to reddish-brown bracts; white flowers
Foliage Color
Medium green
Landscape Use
Border / Bed, Container / Patio, Desert / Xeriscape, Tropical Garden
Garden Style
Container / Patio, Desert / Xeriscape, Pollinator / Wildlife, Tropical
Soil
Amended / Rich, Well-Drained
Companion Plants
Clivia, Foxtail fern, Irrigated partial shade, Liriope
Non-toxic
Non-toxic
Care Instructions

Light: Bright filtered light or gentle morning sun; protect from Phoenix afternoon sun and reflected heat.

Water: Moderate, consistent moisture; water deeply when the top 1–2 inches of soil dry. Containers may need frequent watering during Phoenix summers. Reduce watering in winter; avoid soggy soil.

Soil: Well-drained, organically enriched soil; use a quality container mix in pots. Mulch garden plantings, keeping mulch away from stems.

Mature size: Usually 3–5 feet tall and 2–3 feet wide as a braided standard, depending on training, container size, and pruning.

Bloom: Repeatedly from spring through fall; may bloom nearly year-round in warm, frost-free conditions. Extreme summer heat can reduce flowering.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen in frost-free conditions; may lose leaves or suffer stem dieback during Phoenix freezes.

Growth rate: Moderate to fast during warm weather with adequate water and nutrition.