Shrimp Plant, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Shrimp plant is a soft, bushy flowering perennial whose bracts dangle like shrimp, in coppery red, yellow or white, and it grows easily in SW Florida in sun to part shade. It blooms most of the year and draws hummingbirds and butterflies. Sizes vary, so text us what you want and we text back a planted price.
- Light:
- Full sun to part shade
- Water:
- Moderate; wilts in dry spells, so steady moisture helps
- Salt:
- Low; keep out of salt spray
Shrimp Plant
Ask for a photo of the actual plant we would deliver.
Shrimp Plant sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Shrimp Plant | Call for Quote |
Shrimp Plant in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 2 to 5 ft tall and 2 to 3 ft wide; easily pruned shorter
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Moderate; wilts in dry spells, so steady moisture helps
- Salt tolerance
- Low; keep out of salt spray
- Cold tolerance
- Frost kills the tops, but it usually returns from the roots in spring; coastal Lee is usually fine
- Growth rate
- Moderate to fast
- Spacing
- 2 to 3 ft apart for a mass planting
- Florida native
- No
- Botanical name
- Justicia brandegeeana
Where Shrimp Plant works in a SW Florida yard
Plant shrimp plant in groups of three or five at the front or middle of a bed, where its arching stems and hanging bracts can show. It handles part shade, so it works under high-canopy trees and along north and east walls. The loose habit looks relaxed beside pentas, firebush and blue porterweed, which also bring pollinators.
- Hummingbird and butterfly beds
- Part-shade color
- Informal borders
- Foundation plantings
How our crew plants it
Shrimp plant goes into rich, well-drained ground, level with the soil and 2 to 3 ft apart for a mass, with 2 inches of mulch kept off the stems. Our crew soaks the bed in and cleans up. New plants need frequent watering for the first couple of months, as Lee and Collier allow, then moderate water.
Care after planting
- Tip-prune after each flush of bracts to keep it bushy, and cut it back hard in late winter if it gets leggy.
- Water on your assigned days, and give a deeper soak when afternoon leaves wilt in the dry season.
- Fertilize in early spring and again in early fall with a slow-release product, and avoid nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer from June 1 to September 30 under Lee County, Naples and Marco Island rules.
- Cover young plants on frost nights inland, and wait until spring to cut out frost-killed stems.
What to watch for
- Scale and spider mites can trouble stressed plants, and a strong water spray or horticultural oil usually handles them.
Shrimp Plant questions we hear
Is shrimp plant invasive in Florida?+
No. Mexican shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeeana) is not on Florida's invasive plant list. Do not confuse it with green shrimp plant, also called Browne's blechum, a different plant that is listed as invasive. Ours is the bushy one with colorful, dangling bracts.
Does shrimp plant bloom all year in Southwest Florida?+
Nearly. UF/IFAS notes it blooms year-round in mild climates, and in SW Florida it flowers most of the year in flushes, slowing in cool weather. Light pruning after a flush keeps the flowers coming.
Will shrimp plant come back after frost?+
Usually, yes. Frost kills the tops, but the plant normally returns from the roots in spring. Leave frosted stems in place until the danger passes, then cut them out. Coastal Lee and Collier rarely see frost, while inland yards should cover young plants.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Shrimp Plant
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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See it in 3D first
We deliver and plant across Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Estero, Bonita Springs and about an hour around.