Justicia carnea
Plant of the month: April
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Also Known As: Brazilian plume flower
Native To: Brazil
Blooms: Autumn, late winter and spring
Habitat: Subtropical open forest
Where Found At BBG: Subtropical House
This is a tender ornamental shrub with soft, felt leaves and stunning pale pink, plume-like flowers. It is related to bear’s breeches or Acanthus, belonging to the family Acanthaceae.
This plant is very sensitive to cold, so must only be grown in a warm glasshouse or conservatory. It grows to a height of 1.2 metres and must be positioned in good light and pruned straight after blooming to encourage repeat flowering.