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.

HOUSE PLANTS

I bought this beautiful Justicia brandegeeana from Hua Hng recently and it is slightly different from the one that I planted in HortPark. This one really reminded me of its synonym Beloperone guttata, that I used to see in books and this name was the first time I learnt about this beautiful Shrimp Plant.


The whole inflorescence is more curved and the youngest bracts are yellow orange before turning to red. To me, this is more attractive than the variety with a less curved inflorescence and red bracts.


I also bought this other beautiful Episcia cupreata from Cheers and 3 pots of this red-veined cute looking new Fittonia cultivar. It just made my day.

JUSTICIA FULVICOMA

This is another Justicia that won my heart over some time ago. It is also known by its other synonyms Beloperone fulvicoma, B. comosa, J. comosa or its common name Orange Shrimp Plant or Mexican Plume.

I bought the Justicia brandegeeana (Red Shrimp Plant) about 2 years ago and by luck, this plant was also in the same pot. So I planted it at the Home Garden and the plant is still there but it is not performing optimally due to the low light conditions and minimal care.

This photo was taken from a pot propagated by my colleague. With the attention given to it and the high light and fertilizers given, there are many inflorescences and the colours are so vibrant.

Anyway, the 2 links attached below provides more information on the plant:

1. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/114847/
2. http://www.stgmagazine.com.au/issue_19_preview/iss19_fa.htm