On a recent visit to the U.S. Botanic Garden I spotted an unusual looking plant. My first reaction when I saw it was that the flowers looked like shrimp! You can imagine my surprise when I read the sign identifying the plant that it was a Shrimp Plant – Justicia Brandigeana Variagate.

Shrimp plants are native to Mexico and is also grown in Florida. Apparently they bloom almost year round.

When I photographed it, the shrimp plant at the U.S. Botanic Garden was upper walkway in the Jungle area on the left almost directly opposite the main entrance of the Botanic Garden.

(c) 2009 Patty Hankins

(c) 2009 Patty Hankins

(c) 2009 Patty Hankins

The underside of the flower has petals that look like the legs of a shrimp.

(c) 2009 Patty Hankins

As I finished photographing the shrimp plant, I had to wonder – was there a cocktail sauce plant anywhere nearby?