I have learned to love Red Shrimp Plant (Justicia brandegeana) since taking up gardening in South Florida. My neighbor gave me a start of this several years ago and they just keep going – drought, rain, winter, summer – no problem and lots of flowers. The red flowers have been catching my eye since the onslaught of rain in June rejuvenated them.
I started with the Red Shrimp plants and just kept adding more and more foliage, then some Bromeliads and Frangipani and then some more foliage..lots of greens in this vase. The Shrimps ended up in a supporting role instead of starring in the vase. Here is a shrimpy close up.
Here is a close up of the arrangement:
The big leaf in the back is from Split Leaf Philodendron (P. selloum); there are a few bits of Burgundy Aechmea Bromeliad leaves in the back and some Red Shrimp Plants. And Asparagus Fern and Asian Sword Fern that appeared gratis in the garden. I am trying to hustle the ferns out of the garden before they take over. The big white flowers are Bridal Bouquet Frangipani (Plumeria pudica); smaller white flowers Sweet Begonias (Begonia odorata); red varigated foliage is from Louisiana Red Copperleaf (Acalphya wilkesiana). More Red Shrimp below the Frangipani and a Red Guzmania Bromeliad flower.
I have also learned to love Key West Pink Shrimp since moving to South Florida. They are readily available here and I can make myself a very nice meal with about four dollars worth of shrimp. My husband has odd shellfish issues, so I am the sole consumer. Here is my edible version of Shrimp and Greens.
Happy Gardening, I hope everyone finds something lovely to go with the greens in the garden. Shrimps or not.
To see more vases from gardens around the world visit Cathy at http://www.ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com.
The Shrub Queen 
The greens really set off the blooms – they make the perfect contrast. And just how white is that frangipani?! It looks as if it would glow in the dark! Are your shrimps what we call prawns? UK shrimps are teeny things and we might colloquially call a small person as a shrimp,
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Thanks, it is really white. Bridal Bouquet is a wonderful name for it. The Shrimp I eat is a warm water thing, from the Florida Keys. I think of Prawns as being much bigger and from colder waters. There is Rock Shrimp which is much smaller. The Key West Pinks are about 2 inches long..
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I am not a shellfish expert but ordinary prawns here would be about an inch long, and ‘large’ ones a couple of inches. King prawns are bigger again and imported from the far east, I think
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Just reading the title made my mouth water! Gulf shrimp is so tasty, but hard to get here.
Another sweet arrangement – you’ve got a great style, Amy. Wish I could smell that Plumeria!
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Thanks, Eliza..northern shrimp seem to be in short supply?
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As far as I know, shrimp is a warm water creature, but maybe I’m wrong. Most shrimp here comes out of Thailand (frozen) and isn’t on the Watchlist for sustainable seafood, which we try to adhere to.
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There is shrimp in colder waters, just not the same kind. I don’t eat the Thai stuff either.. a lot is farmed, ugh.
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This vase looks quite celebratory with the glossy leaves and shiny red and white blooms. I would prefer the flower to the real shrimp. 😉
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Yes, not quite vegan.
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How is it that I always manage to read your posts when I’m hungry?! Dinner is still half an hour away but, after seeing your shrimp, I’m now famished. I love that Guzmania flower – if only bromeliads grew as well in my climate as they do in yours!
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It is the time difference!! That Guzmania has been around forever. I would gladly part with some humidity if it would help..
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I love those ferns and they are a perfect foil to your shrimps.
Your supper has me add prawns 🦐 to my shopping list. Yum!
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Thank you, glad you are having prawns for dinner! Enjoy.
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Justicia is one of those genera that just does not do well for us, but some people continue to try to grow it. Well, at least they did a few years ago. Now that I think of it, there is not much of it left. I see it rarely in planter boxes in Santa Cruz. One species was a bit more popular in the 1980s, but I do not remember the name.
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