16 February 2012

JUSTICIA BRANDEGEEANA

 Today's weather - sunny
This is a rather slow-growing shrub and it really took this plant quite a while to grow to this size. Unlike the ones planted at HortPark with completely red bracts, this one that I first saw in books as Beloperone guttata (common name: Shrimp Plant; Family: Acanthaceae) and fell in love with produces new bracts that are creamy in colour and gradually turns pink before finally taking on a crimson red. The flowers are white compared to the pinkish ones at HortPark.


Between the two, I definitely prefer this more because of the varied colored bracts. Maybe I should add the more uncommon Justicia fulvicoma and common Pachystachys lutea that I love in the same planter to provide some contrast in their flowers.