Popsicle Stick

Popsicle Stick is a defensive plant. When zombies bite her, their movement and attack speed will be slowed by 50%, but this can be undone by fire-based attacks. Popsicle Stick has as much health as a Wall-nut, but costs twice as much, as she slows down all zombies that bite her.

If an Ice-shroom is planted (alongside a Coffee Bean during daytime levels), her health will be completely restored.

Origins
Popsicle Stick is based on the stick of an ice pop, which is commonly referred to as a "popsicle stick." In addition, she is based on a "stick," a common term to refer to a shed branch of a tree.

Overview
Popsicle Stick can withstand 72 bites, and her appearance changes at 48 and 24 bites, before finally being eaten at 72 bites. When zombies bite her, their movement and attack speed is slowed to 50%, but this is undone if they are hit by a fire attack, until they bite her again.

Suburban Almanac entry
Popsicle Stick

Popsicle Sticks are walls that slow zombies that bite them.

Toughness: high

Special: can be healed by ice-shrooms

Popsicle Stick is working on becoming a more patient plant. "I want to take things slower," she says, "I feel I just have to cool down." But you can only take things so slow when you're melting from the heat of the summer sun.

Cost: 100

Recharge: slow

Strategies
Popsicle Stick, while only as healthy as a Wall-nut, has the added bonus of slowing zombies, effectively doubling her health. While she does not have the ability to block flying zombies, like a Tall-nut, she still has the ability to slow groups of zombies, which lasts even for a few seconds after she is eaten. While using her with other slowing plants, like Snow Pea and Winter Melon may not be advisable, using strong plants like Gatling Pea or Melon-pult is, as zombies biting them will effectively have damage dealt to them be doubled.

One of the greatest benefits to packing Popsicle Stick on a level is her synergy with Ice-shroom, as when an Ice-shroom is planted, all Popsicle Sticks on the screen will be restored to full health. While Popsicle Stick does work with Wall-nut First Aid, depending on the number of Popsicle Sticks on screen, an Ice-shroom can effectively save large amounts of sun. However, on daytime levels, remember to pack Coffee Bean as well, as otherwise the Ice-shroom will not activate, and the Popsicle Stick will retain her health.

Trivia

 * Popsicle Stick was the first plant by CompliensCreator00 posted to the Plants vs. Zombies Character Creator in 2019.