White Shrimp Plant

Justicia betonica

family

Acanthaceae

origin

Exotic

declaration

NIL

NIL

For information only

Common names

Paper plume, , Shrimp plant, Squirrel tail, Squirrel's tail, Squirreltail, White shrimp.

A shrubby perenial up to 1.5m high that produces an abundance of upright, compact white-violet inflorescences with overlapping, papery, cream to pale green (sometimes with a tinge of pink) bracts that have distinct green net veins.

Leaf arrangement:Simple
Leaf form:Opposite
White
Pink
Purple
Green

Impact

Impact

White shrimp plant (Justicia betonica) is regarded as an environmental weed in Queensland and as a potential environmental weed or "sleeper weed" in other parts of northern Australia. This garden ornamental has escaped cultivation and invaded roadsides, parks, urban bushland, disturbed sites and waste areas. It prefers damper sites and is particularly invasive along waterways and in riparian areas., White shrimp plant (Justicia betonica) is quickly becoming widespread and common in waterways in south-eastern Queensland. It forms dense infestations that replace native species and was recently ranked among the top 200 most invasive species in this region. This species was first recorded as naturalised in New South Wales in the year 2000, in Ukerebagh Nature Reserve at Tweed Heads in the far north-east corner of the state., This species is is also regarded as being invasive in Hawaii, where it often escapes cultivation and forms large stands of vegetation.

Location

Location

Characteristics

Characteristics

Similar Species

Similar Species

Control Methods