S & J Nursery’s Guide to Growing
Giant Yellow Shrimp Plant
/ Golden Shrimp
Plant
in the Northeast Florida, Jacksonville
| St. Augustine Landscape
( Pachystachys lutea )
Giant Yellow Shrimp Plant or Golden Shrimp Plant Pachystachys lutea Origins:
– Native to Polynesia, the Pachystachys lutea are similar in apperance to shrimp plants (Justicia brandegeana ) and go by the same common name. Unlike shrimp plants, the blooms are held upright on tips of stems of Pachystachys.
Sun Exposure for Giant Yellow Shrimp Plant :
– Giant Yellow Shrimp should be planted into a partial sun and partial shade location in our Northeast Florida, Jacksonville | St. Augustine area landscape.
Foliage of the Giant Yellow Shrimp / Golden Shrimp Plant / Pachystachys lutea:
– Large narrow dark green leaves to 5 inches long.
– Foliage may remain evergreen during the winter when planted into a more tropical gardening zone, but will in most garden settings here in the Norhteast Florida area, go dormant and regrow the following spring.
– Golden shrimp plants are root hardy in zone 9b and top hardy in zone 10-11.
Soil Preference / Salt tolerance of the Giant Yellow Shrimp Plant or Golden Shrimp
Plant Pachystachys lutea:
– Giant yellow shrimp plant will prefer to be planted into fertile, slightly
acid, and well drained soil locations.
– Salt tolerance is poor.
Size Variance of the Giant Yellow Shrimp Plant or Golden Shrimp Plant Pachystachys
lutea:
– The foliage on the giant yellow shrimp plant may reach 5-6 ft high and
3+ ft wide in more tropical climate areas but will stay at 2-3 ft high and wide in our Northeast Florida, Jacksonville and St. Augustine area gardens.
Giant Yellow Shrimp Plant or Golden Shrimp Plant Pachystachys lutea Growth Habit:
– Pachystachys lutea has a stongly upright growth habit.
Growth Rate of the Giant Yellow Shrimp Plant or Golden Shrimp Plant Pachystachys
lutea :
– Fast growing plant selection will reach to about 2-3 ft each year if cut down to the ground in spring after all danger of frost has passed.
Blooms on the Giant Yellow Shrimp Plant or Golden Shrimp Plant Pachystachys lutea :
– Stunning bloom spikes are held just above the foliage on upright branch tips. Bright golden yellow bracts will have white somewhat tubular blooms emerging from them.
– Attracts hummingbirds!
– Blooms (or inflorescence) appear in late spring, summer, and fall
until the first frost.
Water Requirements of the Giant Yellow Shrimp Plant or Golden Shrimp Plant
Pachystachys lutea :
-Moderate water needs.
( Although much more durable once established in the landscape, regular water is necessary to get the plant rooted and growing on its own after being planted in the ground from an S & J Nursery container.)
– Use supplemental irrigation weekly to bi-weekly when planted in drier soil situations.
Best Uses For Giant Yellow Shrimp Plant or Golden Shrimp Plant Pachystachys lutea
in the Jacksonville | St. Augustine Area Landscapes :
– Plant in small groupings as an annual or large masses and allow them to regrow each year as a perennial plant selection.
– Adds a great tropical appeal to mixed borders and container plantings.
– Can be used as an indoor blooming plant.
Care of Giant Yellow Shrimp Plant or Golden Shrimp Plant Pachystachys lutea in the
Northeast Florida Landscape:
– Amend soil generously with compost when planting for best results.
– Water every day during the establishment period after planting in the garden from an S & J Nursery container. Supplemental irrigation will be needed after that weekly or biweekly depending on individual garden conditions.
– As with so many tropical plant selections, be sure not to trim back after
August so that there is plenty of time for new growth tips to harden off before winter time.
– Trim off winter damaged foliage in early spring only after all danger of
frost has passed. Trimming brown foliage off early reduces the plants tolerance to the next frost.
– Fertilize each spring with a handful of garden compost or a mixture of Milorganite or Green Edge Fertilizer and a slow release poly coated plant food such as Osmocote or Stay Green general purpose plant food or 10-10-10. Fertilize again in summer and again in early fall.