Cut shrimp plant hard in winter, or when bloom slows and the stems go skinny. Outer stems come down to a few inches; leave the center a bit taller.
Cut it back in winter, when bloom slows
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Winter in a mild climate, or late winter before new growth. After a freeze has already cut the top, skip the hard cut and wait for new shoots | A spring shear that removes the wood that will bloom next |
| How much | Outer stems to about 2 to 3 inches; center stems a little taller. Or cut the whole clump back by about one-third | Leaving a tall, leafless stick hedge all winter |
| In growth | Pinch 4 to 5 inches above a leaf pair to keep it bushy | Never cutting, then living with a gawky silhouette |
Nine months of bloom wears the stems out. A hard cut lets new shoots come thicker, with larger bracts. [1] Pinch 4 to 5 inches in the growing season if a stem gets skinny. [2] Where frost already kills the top, that freeze did the cut. Wait for the base to push, then pinch. [3]
Should you cut back a shrimp plant?
Yes, once a year in winter or when bloom slows, unless frost already took the top. Pinch tips in the growing season for a denser clump.
How to prune a shrimp plant
Work from the outside in. Take clean cuts just above a node. J. brandegeeana and J. carnea both bloom on new growth, so time the hard cut before that flush.
- In winter, or in late February to early March in a mild climate, start at the outer stems. Cut them to about 2 to 3 inches above the soil.
- Work toward the center. Leave each inner ring a bit taller so the finished clump is a low mound, not a flat table.
- Cut out dead, crossed, or gnarled wood. Take those stems to the base.
- If the plant is only a little lanky, skip the 2-inch cut and instead shorten the whole clump by about one-third. [4]
- Through the growing season, pinch 4 to 5 inches of tip just above a leaf pair when a stem gets skinny.
How to prune a shrimp plant?
In winter, cut outer stems to a few inches and leave the center taller, just above a node. In growth, pinch tips. Do not shear in spring if you still want that cycle's bloom.
Stick a cutting from the stems you cut
Those stems root. Use a few of the pieces you already took.
- Choose a 4 to 6 inch piece with at least two or three leaf pairs. Cut just below a node.
- Strip the lower leaves. Leave the top pair.
- Stick the stem into a small pot of mix that drains. Keep it evenly moist in bright shade until it resists a gentle tug — often six to eight weeks.
- Water-rooting works for some gardeners. Change the water often, then pot up as soon as roots show. Mix is more reliable than a jar on a sill.
Can you grow a shrimp plant from a cutting?
Yes. Take a 4 to 6 inch stem below a node when you prune, strip the lower leaves, and stick it in moist mix that drains.
Can I root a shrimp plant in water?
You can. Mix is the more reliable route. If you use water, pot up as soon as roots form so they do not stay thin and brittle.
What fails a prune
A spring haircut on wood that would have bloomed next steals that cycle. Cutting into old, leafless stubs and leaving them as a hedge looks worse than a low mound. Desert chuparosa does not want this hard shrimp-plant cut — take only old woody stems there. Water-willow is not this job.
Stick one cutting from the stems you cut, then leave the clump until new leaves show.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Joy Us Garden -
https://www.joyusgarden.com/shrimp-plant-pruning/ - [2] Garden Guides -
https://www.gardenguides.com/84803-prune-shrimp-plant/ - [3] UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions -
https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/shrimp-plant/ - [4] Texas Master Gardeners -
https://txmg.org/hendersonmg/files/2020/06/SHRIMP-PLANT.pdf
This note is part of Justicia Guides.
More pruning timing notes by plant live in Pruning Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors