Victoria County Master Gardener Association
ph: 361-935-1556
nancyk
2018 Oct 05
A POP OF
YELLOW
Plants are perfect addition to fall gardens
October 05, 2018
By Marcia Kauffman - Victoria County Master Gardener
Edited by Charla Borchers Leon
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY PINTEREST.COM
The shrubby Yellow Shrimp Plant, also known as Lemon Lollipop and Golden Candle, displays yellow/golden cone-shaped bracts resembling a shrimp. It is also known for its 6-inch ovate leves that alternate on the stems. White blooms appear for a few days while the bracts last spring through summer and into cooler temperatures. The plant must be protected from frost as it will die down but will come back for spring.
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY VICTORIA COUNTY MASTER GARDENER/MARCIA KAUFFMAN.
This Yellow Shrimp or Golden Candle Plant was available recently at a local garden center. It is somewhat taller than the squatty shrub and can likely reach 3-4 feet. The golden bracts resemble tall candles flickering in the garden through the fall. The plant can be brought inside in cold temperatures and placed in a location with bright, morning sun and kept continuously moist but not overwatered.
The Gardeners’ Dirt is written by members of the Victoria County Master Gardener Association, an educational outreach of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Victoria County. Mail your questions in care of the Advocate, P.O. Box 1518, Victoria, TX 77901; or vcmga@vicad.com, or comment on this column at VictoriaAdvocate.com.
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY FLICKR.COM
The white blooms of this Yellow Shrimp/Lemon Lollipop Plant attract hummingbirds. Note the deep tubular-shaped characteristics of the blooms that provide nectar for hummers and other long-tongued pollinators. While they will only last for several days, the bracts can remain for months up until cooler temperatures.
“Each day is one day closer to cooler temperatures” is my way to survive beastly late summer days. I love fall colors and enjoy planting autumn red, yellow and orange as the temperatures decrease.
This year, I especially want to have my yard bountiful because we will have family from as far away as London to as near as San Antonio for Thanksgiving. I want everything to be looking great, although Mother Nature may have other plans for my yard.
Description
The lemon lollipop or golden shrimp plant, Pachystachys lutea, grows like a shrub when well-maintained.
A physical description would include the long, ovate leaves that can measure 6 inches in length with an opposite leaf arrangement on the stem. The yellow, cone-shaped bract (the part that looks like a shrimp) produces small, white flowers. Even though the flowers don’t last more than a few days, the bract will last many weeks and even the entire season of spring and up to cooler temperatures.
Another name for this plant is the Golden Candle plant, which may grow as tall as 3 to 4 feet. Its cousin, Justicia brandegeana, the salmon-colored shrimp plant, closely resembles the lemon lollipop including its growing conditions.
It is a native of South America.
Growing conditions
This plant does well in our area.
- Location and conditions
If you are interested in growing the lemon lollipop, it needs full sun to partial shade. The soil should be slightly acidic and well-drained, allowing it to dry before watering. It should be fertilized during the growing season to keep the foliage green. It grows in this area and best in Zones 9-12.
- Multiple-year duration with proper care
If this plant is subjected to freezing temperatures, it will die. The good news is in the spring, it will come back. If maintained properly, the lemon lollipop plant could last for several years.
Spring is best time
After being cooped up indoors during the winter months, I am ready to work in my yard. Some springtime tips for this plant include pruning to induce branching and producing a fuller lemon lollipop plant. Spring is also a good time to fertilize with slow-release pellets.
Growing indoors
I had never thought of growing this plant indoors, but it would be a nice spot of color to be included in the décor in a room giving it an exotic addition.
Since the light indoors is not as direct, they can be kept in a pot in the bright light of morning sun. Do not place in direct mid-sunlight.
You will need to keep the soil continuously moist. I was advised by one nursery to definitely not overwater because this would be the demise of the plant. When inside, mist regularly as it prefers an environment high in humidity. It grows best in temperatures around 60 degrees.
In the spring, to create more growth, refresh the soil.
Propagation techniques
The plant can be propagated in various ways.
- By cuttings
One method of propagating the lemon lollipop is taking the softwood or semi-ripe cuttings from a nonblooming plant, preferably in early spring. Make a cutting from the softwood of about 6 inches. Strip off the leaves as having to maintain the existing leaves would take energy from creating new roots
Then, dip the cutting into a rooting hormone before sticking it into a mixture of perlite and vermiculite. The newly planted cutting needs to be kept moist until it is well-rooted. You will know roots have developed when you pull on the cutting and it doesn’t pull out readily from the rooting medium.
- From seed
Propagation can be as easy as removing the dried seed head from the plant. Then remove the seeds and plant in soil. Of course, water until the plant appears.
Pests
As with many plants, pests can be a problem and need to be carefully managed. This plant is very sensitive to mealybugs, scale and spider mites. Most of the time, they don’t require any management to control damage.
However, if damage is severe, consider using insecticidal soap as an alternative to pesticide usage.
Attracts hummingbirds
Here’s a bonus of the lemon lollipop/shrimp plant: it attracts hummingbirds (although not quite as well as the salmon-colored variety) and other long-tongued pollinators. Plant with other hummingbird plants listed with this article.
Add to fall color mixture
You will see a dash of yellow color here and there in my garden. I have enjoyed learning about the lemon lollipop/yellow shrimp plant, so I have decided to add it to my mixture of fall garden colors this year.
PHOTO COTRIBUTED BY VICTORIA COUNTY MASTER GARDENER/SUZANN HERRICKS
The Salmon-colored Shrimp Plant bract is smaller in size and exists in more quantity on the plant. With hummingbirds being especially attracted to reddish-brown and salmon-colored blooms, this shrimp plant variety is also very popular for area gardens. Note that the white blooms are also smaller on this variety than the Yellow Lollipop and has similar growing characteristics.
ph: 361-935-1556
nancyk