Orange Shrimp Plant

Orange shrimp plant (Aphelandra sinclairiana), also called Panama queen, is a tropical evergreen shrub grown for large, prominently veined leaves and upright flower spikes. The colorful spikes combine orange to reddish bracts with pink tubular flowers; the species may reach about 3 m in tropical outdoor conditions, while a Chicago Botanic Garden greenhouse specimen reached about 4 ft. ## Form and flowering This Central American species makes a bold specimen for a warm, humid garden or a bright conservatory. The Chicago Botanic Garden records flowering from winter into early summer in its greenhouse, while Singapore’s NParks describes inflorescences up to 20 cm long. The orange bracts are showy, but the open flowers are pink, so the plant’s common name refers chiefly to the bracts. ## Growing conditions Provide warmth, bright light with some protection from harsh exposure, and reliable moisture. NParks lists full sun or semi-shade and moist, well-drained, fertile loam; the Chicago Botanic Garden also reports moist soil and full sun to partial shade. Keep roots evenly moist without leaving them waterlogged. Outdoors, use only in frost-free tropical or subtropical climates; elsewhere grow in a protected greenhouse or conservatory. ### Sources [Chicago Botanic Garden plant profile](https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plant-information/plant-finder/aphelandra-sinclairiana-panama-queen-orange-shrimp-plant) · [Singapore NParks profile](https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/1/6/1680) ## Maintenance Remove spent flowering stems and damaged leaves as needed. Maintain even moisture and warmth, and allow enough space for the shrub’s eventual size in tropical conditions.