Phlogacanthus guttatus is native to the forests of the Eastern Himalaya through Myanmar, where it grows in the shaded undergrowth and blooms in the depths of winter, from December into February. Hummingbirds are drawn to the tubular flowers, which are white with maroon speckling at the throat, the shrimp-like illusion completed by colorful bracts in orange, yellow, and gold that persist long after the blooms have faded.

It prefers the partial shade and warm humid conditions of its native forest floor, with moist but well-drained soil rich in organic matter. In temperate climates it makes an unusual houseplant, flowering at a time of year when very little else does. Worth noting: it is frequently confused with Justicia brandegeeana, which shares the common name shrimp plant but is a different species entirely, native to Central America and far more widely grown.