What Is This Spikey Red Flower?

Ask the Plant Expert: What’s the name of this plant? Can it be fed to animals? What’s the nutrient content of this plant?

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply: Kester, this question was a bit tricky, so a friend of mine, Rick Pudwell at the Memphis Botanical Garden was able to help me identify the plant. Here is his reply:

The plant is Pachystachys coccinea, Cardinal guard. A native of the West Indies and Northern South America. It is a small shrub, probably 5 to 6 feet in the Acanthaceae family which makes it a relative of Shrimp plant, Thunbergia, Ruellia, Stobilanthes and similar plants which are often cultivated as ornamental tropical plants in the United States. I would not think it to be toxic to animals, but can find no literature that would give nutritional value as it is not considered of as a food plant.

We hope this helps, Kester!

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