Ruellia Species, Browne's Blechum, Green Shrimp Plant, Penguin Balsam, Rock Balsam, Wild Hops

This plant shows up in my backyard as a weed. The yard is an informal jungle so I let it grow since it is a butterfly host. It doesn't gr...Read Moreow out of control in my shady garden. If it pops up somewhere I don't want it I just pull it.

The Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council has listed this species as a Category ll invasive.

Green Shrimp is a weed in moist places in my yard. It's the host plant for Malachite butterflies (which are sadly not in my yard) so I'v...Read Moree collected seeds (January) and transplanted it to pots and places that are inconvenient to mow (as an attractive ground cover about 7 inches tall). If watered regularly and a bit shaded it grows well and fights out many less prefered weeds.

My shrimp plant does really well, then all of a sudden it decides it is going to argue with me. I find if I keep it in some shade it doe...Read Mores much better, but if I put it in full sun it reacts negatively. I live in southern CA (San Diego area) and sometimes the direct sun is too much.

Am really happy with this particular plant because it is unusal and different. I try to use unusual plants in my garden rather than run of the mill every day sort of plants and shrubs.