Landscape low maintenance flowering shrub pro DIY tip: Red Shrimp Plant
Through this YouTube channel, Earthwise Horticultural Services owner Scott Simpson, landscape designer and horticulturalist, talks about Shrimp plant Justicia brandegeeana and provides advice on low maintenance plants and landscaping tips.
Justicia brandegeeana or Red Shrimp Plant is a medium size shrub that produces very showy shrimp shaped flowers. There are two colors available, golden and the red shown in this video. Although the look very similar, Golden Shrimp Plant, Pachystachys lutea, is entirely different. They are in different genus but under the same plant family, Acanthaceae or Acanthus family. In general, the red Shrimp Plant is usually more easily found in Central Florida. Golden Shrimp plants tend to be more sensitive to cold temperatures.
Conditions: Shrimp Plant can be used in a variety of lighting conditions. But I would avoid deep shade as it will get leggy and produce less flowers. It will flower best when it gets planted in very good soil so if you are planting in a sandy area then amend the bed with topsoil or some other organic amendment like mushroom compost; or maybe both!
On a side note: it is better to amend the entire bed or immediate area rather than just add topsoil to the planting hole. The roots will quickly outgrow the plant hole but if the entire bed or area surrounding the plant has the soil improved then it will provide more benefit.
Use: Shrimp Plant can be used as an accent or a mid-level flowering shrub. Make sure to instruct your landscape maintenance provider NOT to hedge this shrub as they will be cutting off the flowers, which is the point of having it! Allow this shrub to grow to a natural form then cut back to half size twice per year; once just after the last freeze (Early March range) then once more in late August.
Care: Shrimp plant should get consistent irrigation so make sure to check you have good coverage. Water new plants daily for a month, then every other day for another month. Fertilization right after cutting it back will stimulate new growth at just the right time. Make sure NOT to hedge Shrimp Plants. Use your hand pruners (okay, you can use power shears and it should look okay, but hand pruning gives you more control over where to cut – see my related video on cutting back Shrimp Plant) and cut them back to half size twice per year, once just after the last freeze (Early March range) then once more in late August.
Overwinter: Shrimp Plant will get knocked back in the event of a deep freeze. How much depends on how cold it gets for how long. Just trim out dead branches and it will recover quickly. Using this shrub as an accent or for mid level contrast will allow it to get cut back and then recover without losing the structure of your landscape design; given you used other plants that do not get freeze damage.
University of Florida IFAS write up:
https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/shrimp-plant/
Earthwise Horticultural Services provides landscape design and installation services in Central Florida. The service area includes Seminole and East Orange counties (Lake Mary, Sanford, Heathrow, Winter Park, Winter Springs, Altamonte Springs, Orlando, Longwood, Casselberry areas and nearby).
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While planning your landscape we'll focus on things such as:
1. Choosing plants that not only meet your preferences but are also naturally adapted to the conditions of the landscape.
2. Deciding where and what type of sod to use (if at all); and discussing what it takes to ensure long term success of the new lawn.
3. Problem solving for any trouble areas which includes the consideration of options and identification potential pitfalls.
4. Educating you so that once we are all done, you’ll know what to do in the short term after the installation, as well as long term.
Landscape services include:
· Design & consultation
· Installation of new landscapes
· Hardscaping with natural stone and pavers
· Landscape lighting (low voltage outdoor lighting)
· Irrigation assessment, modification, and improvement (in conjunction with projects)
· Custom built wood landscape structures such as pergolas, arbors, and trellises
This video was recorded and edited by Scott Simpson, the owner of Earthwise Horticultural Services LLC. Thank you for checking out my content. Feel free to visit my website and use the contact tab if you want to consider transforming your landscape into something truly special.
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