Barleria oenotheroides

Barleria oenotheroides is a woody plant. It belongs to the Acanthaceae family. Gardeners also call it the giant yellow shrimp plant. Kew calls it a subshrub, a small woody plant. Its home range runs from Mexico to Guyana. It also grows wild in western tropical Africa. That range extends to the Central African Republic. Kew places it in the wet tropical biome. This means it comes from a warm, wet region. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

This plant lives for years and forms a rounded shrub. It does not grow as a tree. Chicago Botanic Garden lists a full-grown height of 4 feet [1.2 metres]. This makes it a woody plant of modest garden size. The sources give no width at full size. They do not say how fast it grows. They give no facts about its bark or stems. They do not describe leaf shape, size, or feel. The RHS lists three other names for this plant. These are Barleria flava, Barleria micans, and Eranthemum flavum.

Yellow flowers are its main known feature for garden display. Chicago Botanic Garden reports blooms through much of the year. The bloom times it lists span November through April. These dates describe the blooms at that garden. They do not set bloom times for all places. The pages give no flower size or fruit details. The garden says the plant draws birds and butterflies. This does not tell us which animals pollinate the flowers. Nor do the sources name animals that eat its fruit.

Chicago Botanic Garden lists full sun or part shade. It calls for moist soil and USDA hardiness zones 10–11. These facts support moist soil and plenty of light. They do not show how well it withstands drought. Nor do they set a firm plan for watering. No source names a best soil type or pH. The sources give no UK hardiness rating. Its warm, wet home range helps explain its needs. That alone does not give a full care guide.

Chicago Botanic Garden lists uses that suit its rounded shape. It can serve in hedges, screens, beds, and borders. It can also stand alone as a garden plant. Yellow blooms and the wildlife it draws add value. The sources do not cover how to prune it. They do not say how to grow new plants. They name no pests, diseases, or other repeat problems. They give no proof of parts safe to eat. They give no evidence of use as medicine. These records do not show whether it harms pets. Nor do they show whether it is toxic to humans.