Pachystachys lutea aka Golden Shrimp Plant

Pachystachys lutea is a shrub that stays green year-round. It belongs to the Acanthaceae family. Names include golden shrimp plant and lollipop plant. Golden candle plant is another name. It comes from wet tropical regions, from Peru to northern Brazil. Garden plants reach about 2–4 feet [0.6–1.2 metres] tall. Some reach 6 feet [1.8 metres] in their native range. Reported garden spreads reach about 1.6–3 feet [0.5–0.9 metres]. It grows at a medium pace.

The bush grows dense and upright, with several soft stems. Young stems are green but add little to its looks. Green leaves grow in pairs, each across from the other. Each leaf has one blade with clear veins. Sources describe leaves shaped like a lance, oval, or spoon. Their edges can be wavy. Reported leaf lengths range from two to six inches. Leaves stay green, with no change in color in fall. Plants can grow leggy, with gaps below the leafy crown.

Bright yellow bracts form tight spikes above the leaves. These leaf-like parts give the plant its shrimp-like look. White flowers have two lips and grow between the bracts. They emerge over several weeks. New spikes form in warm months, from spring through fall. Warm, sunny spots indoors can support blooms all year. The fruit adds little to the plant's looks. Chicago Botanic Garden lists it as drawing birds and butterflies. The garden also lists it as deer-resistant.

Grow it in full sun or part shade. Give it rich soil that holds moisture but drains well. It tolerates sand, loam, and clay across a broad pH range. It has poor salt tolerance. Indoor plants need warmth, strong light, and moist air. RHS gives it an H1B hardiness rating for outdoor summer use. USDA zones 10–11 suit outdoor plants best. In zone 9b, severe frost can kill the top growth. The roots may then send up new shoots. In colder areas, gardeners grow it as a summer annual.

Use it in borders, large groups, low hedges, or containers. It also suits greenhouses and warm rooms. Grow new plants from softwood cuttings. RHS says it needs no pruning. Florida guidance favors pruning each year to curb leggy growth. Reports do not list disease as a major problem. Scale insects, spider mites, and greenhouse whiteflies can cause trouble. Florida guidance does not list it as invasive. The supplied sources do not establish any edible uses. They also do not establish whether it is toxic.