Description
Justicia brandegeeana — Fruit Cocktail Shrimp Plant
Meet a plant that brings sunshine on demand. Justicia brandegeeana, also called Shrimp Plant or Lollipop Plant, stacks bright golden bracts like little cones and slips pure white flowers between them. We call this selection the Fruit Cocktail Shrimp Plant for its cheerful, party-ready look. It’s lively. It’s easy. And it fits your life, whether you garden on a patio, a sunny windowsill, or a warm backyard bed.
In other words, you get color without the fuss. Let’s show you how.
Why We Love Fruit Cocktail Shrimp Plant
We love plants that do the most with the least effort. This one does exactly that.
- Long bloom window. In warm light, it flowers for months.
- Compact habit. It stays tidy and upright.
- Instant brightness. The golden bracts pop from across the room.
- Friendly to patios and porches. One plant lights up the space.
- Beginner-friendly care. You don’t need a degree to keep it happy.
Instead of waiting for blooms, you enjoy color right now. The bracts hold even between flushes of white flowers, so the show keeps going.
What It Looks Like
Think of a small green shrub topped with mini golden pinecones. The bracts are the “shrimp,” stacked in neat layers. The true flowers are white, tubular, and peek out in little waves. Leaves are lush, mid-green, and softly veined.
- Height: 18–36 inches in a pot; up to 3–4 feet in ground with heat.
- Width: 18–24 inches at maturity.
- Form: Upright, branching, and neat.
But most of all, it looks bright. Even on a cloudy day, those bracts glow.
Where It Thrives
This plant loves warmth. Think tropical mornings and bright days.
- USDA Zones: Outdoors year-round in 10–11.
- Indoors/Seasonal: Great as a bright-light houseplant or summer patio star in cooler zones.
If you’re outside zones 10–11, no worries. We treat it like a sun-loving annual or a container plant you bring inside before frost.
Light Made Simple
Give it bright light and you win.
- Indoors: A south or east window is ideal. Bright, indirect sun works best. A few hours of gentle morning sun is perfect.
- Outdoors: Morning sun + afternoon shade. Hot late sun can scorch leaves in peak summer.
If stems stretch or bracts fade, it’s asking for more light. Move it closer to the window or out to a brighter porch.
Watering: Keep It Even
Shrimp plants like even moisture, not soggy feet.
- When to water: When the top inch of soil feels dry.
- How to water: Water deeply until excess drips out, then let it drain.
- What to avoid: Constant wet soil. It can stress roots.
Humidity helps, too. Average home humidity is fine, but a light tray of pebbles and water under the pot gives a boost.
Soil & Potting
Choose a well-draining potting mix. A peat or coco base with perlite is great. If your mix feels heavy, add more perlite.
- pH: Slightly acidic to neutral is fine.
- Pot: A container with a drainage hole. Clay or plastic both work.
- Repotting: Every 12–18 months, or when roots circle the pot.
After more than one season, trim roots lightly and refresh the mix. That keeps growth strong and bracts bold.
Feeding for Flowers
We want steady, healthy growth and repeat blooms.
- Fertilizer: Use a balanced, water-soluble feed at half strength every 2–4 weeks in spring and summer.
- Pause: Ease off in winter when growth slows.
- Signs it’s hungry: Pale leaves, small bracts, or fewer flowers.
A little food, given often, keeps color on point.
Pruning = More Blooms
Pinching is your friend. When stems are 6–8 inches tall, pinch the tips to encourage branching. More branches mean more bracts.
- After a bloom cycle: Snip off spent bracts and any scraggly growth.
- Shape as you go: Keep it compact and bushy.
You’ll get a plant that looks full, not leggy.
Outdoor Use & Overwintering
In warm zones, plant it in beds near walkways, steps, or seating areas. The color looks amazing against dark mulch or glossy foliage. In cooler zones, keep it in a pot you can move.
- Before frost: Bring containers indoors when nights drop below 50°F.
- Inside care: Bright window, same watering rhythm, and less feed.
- Back outside: After danger of frost, reintroduce to light slowly so leaves don’t burn.
With this rhythm, you enjoy the same plant year after year.
Pollinator & Patio Joy
Those white tubular flowers invite helpful visitors.
- Hummingbirds: They’ll zip in and investigate.
- Butterflies: Expect curious stopovers.
- Bees: Gentle, occasional visits outdoors.
In other words, your patio becomes a small pollinator lounge.
Design Ideas We Love
You can go bold or go soft. Both styles work.
- Tropical mix: Pair with coleus, caladium, and elephant ears. Big leaves + golden cones = drama.
- Sunny porch trio: Shrimp plant with blue scaevola and sweet potato vine. High contrast, zero boredom.
- Window delight: One plant centered in a bright window. Clean, simple, stunning.
- Courtyard feel: Group three in matching pots along a step. Repetition reads like a designer’s touch.
Instead of sprinkling color here and there, cluster for impact. You’ll see the glow from across the yard.
Simple Unboxing & First Week Care
We ship with care so your plant arrives ready to settle in.
- Unpack gently. Remove all wrapping. Water if soil feels dry.
- Acclimate to light. Start bright, indirect. Add more sun over a few days.
- Do not repot day one. Let roots rest for a week before moving up a pot.
- Pinch tips lightly. If stems look tall from travel, a small pinch helps.
Give it a week. You’ll watch bracts perk up and leaves relax.
Easy Problem Solver
Plants talk. Here’s what this one says—and what we do.
- Leggy stems: It wants more light. Move closer to the window. Pinch tips.
- Leaf scorch: Too much hot afternoon sun. Shift to morning sun.
- Faded bracts: Feed lightly and brighten the spot.
- Droop after watering: Roots may be staying wet. Improve drainage and let the top inch dry.
- Pests (rare indoors): If you see tiny webs or sticky leaves, rinse with water and use an insecticidal soap. Keep air moving.
Stay observant, and small tweaks keep it thriving.
Propagation for Friends (or More Plants for You)
Sharing is fun. This plant roots well from soft stem cuttings.
- Snip a 4–6 inch tip below a node.
- Remove lower leaves.
- Dip in rooting hormone (optional).
- Set in moist, airy mix. Keep warm and bright, not hot.
- Roots form in a few weeks. Pot up gently.
Soon you’ll have a matching set. Or a gift for a friend.
Who This Plant Fits
- New plant parents: Forgiving and responsive.
- Busy gardeners: Color without constant attention.
- Container lovers: A standout in pots and planters.
- Indoor bloom fans: Bright windows, simple care, long show.
If you enjoy easy wins, this is your plant. If you enjoy compliments, it’s definitely your plant.
Quick Specs (At a Glance)
- Botanical name: Pachystachys lutea
- Common names: Golden Shrimp Plant, Lollipop Plant
- Our selection: Fruit Cocktail Shrimp Plant
- Light: Bright indirect; morning sun preferred
- Water: Even moisture; never soggy
- Height/Spread: 18–36″ tall, 18–24″ wide in containers
- Bloom: Warm seasons indoors or out; long display from bracts
- Use: Containers, bright windows, patios, tropical borders
- Zones: 10–11 outdoors; treat as annual or houseplant elsewhere
Care Calendar
- Spring: Repot if needed. Start feeding. Pinch once to branch.
- Summer: Bright light, steady water. Enjoy peak color.
- Fall: Reduce feed. Trim lightly. Prepare to move inside in cool zones.
- Winter: Bright window, lighter watering. Keep warm.
- Anytime: Remove spent bracts for a clean look.
This simple rhythm keeps it fresh all year.
Our Promise
We grow plants the way we want plants shipped to us—healthy, rooted, and ready to settle in. We choose sturdy stock, pack with care, and share clear instructions. If shipping weather is cool, we protect accordingly. And if you need guidance, we’re here. We garden with you, not at you.
Golden Cones, Everyday Joy
Color changes how a space feels. The Fruit Cocktail Shrimp Plant gives you that lift every time you walk by. The form is tidy. The care is simple. The look is happy. And the payoff is big for the effort you give.
So let’s brighten your porch, your sunroom, or that favorite window. We’ll grow the plant. You enjoy the glow.
