Shrimp Plant (Mexican Shrimp Plant, False Hop)
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Do not Feed- Common Name: Shrimp Plant (Mexican Shrimp Plant, False Hop)
- Latin Name: Justicia brandegeana; syn. Beloperone guttata
- Family Name: Acanthaceae
Although Shrimp Plant is a pot plant in the UK it does grow as a large shrub in its natural habitat and it takes its name from the fact that the form and colour of the bracts resemble a shrimp.
Although there are no known hazards directly related to this plant it does come from a family where some of the plants are toxic and in the absence of information as to whether it is a safe food, we would advise you to err on the side of caution and not feed this plant to your tortoise (although eating the flower would probably not do any harm).
The actual colour of the flower is white, but the colourful bracts that surround the flower can make it appear to be green, yellow, or shades of pink and orange. Do not confuse with Golden Shrimp Plant or with Honeywort which is called Blue Shrimp Plant and is toxic.
Although there are no known hazards directly related to this plant it does come from a family where some of the plants are toxic and in the absence of information as to whether it is a safe food, we would advise you to err on the side of caution and not feed this plant to your tortoise (although eating the flower would probably not do any harm).
The actual colour of the flower is white, but the colourful bracts that surround the flower can make it appear to be green, yellow, or shades of pink and orange. Do not confuse with Golden Shrimp Plant or with Honeywort which is called Blue Shrimp Plant and is toxic.
