A small shrublet, up to 1.5 m, much branched from the base, young twigs with patent hairs. Leaves with 1-3 cm long, slender strigose petioles; lamina ovate o lanceolate-ovate, 2.5-9 x 2-5 cm, sparsely hirsute on both sides, entire, basally attenuate, acute. Flowers white or pale-lilac, 2-3.5 cm long in terminal or axillary, up to 10 cm long, strobilate, reddish-brown spikes; bracts broadly ovate, 10-20 x 7-15 mm, pilose and densely ciliate obtuse or ± acute, reddish-brown, closely imbricate; bracteoles oblong-lanceolate to ovate, c. 10 mm long, ciliate. Calyx lobes narrowly lanceolate, 5-7 mm long, ciliate. Corolla tube 1.5-2.5 cm long, soft hairy outside, upper lip smaller than lower, ± entire, lower lip purple spotted within, shallowly 3-lobed, Ovary glabrous with filiform, hairy style. Capsule oblong, 10-12 mm long, puberulent. Seeds ± ovate, c. 3 mm long, smooth.

Type: Described from Mexico.

Distribution: A native of Mexico, cultivated elsewhere.

In Pakistan, the Shrimp plant is grown as on ornamental for its showy spikes.