Botanical Name: Justicia californica (Beloperone californica)
Common Name: Chuparosa
Type of Plant: dicot: shrub
Character deciduous
 
Habit of Growth:
Overall Shape a low, wide-spreading, intricately-branched plant, with gray-green soft-woody stems, forming a loosely rounded or mounded shrub
Height 3' - 5'
Spread equal or more
Growth Rate moderate
 
Environment:
Exposure outdoors full sun required; thrives in warm dry locations
Soil prefers loose sandy soils
Hardiness tender (zones 10-13, 18-24): grow below 2500' inland
 
Morphology:
Leaves pinnate, opposite, ovate, to 1/2" long; yellowish-green; drop during periods of drought
Flowers bright red (occasionally orange or yellow), tubular, 1"-1 1/2" long, in showy clusters at ends of branches; March-May, intermittent
Fruit a capsule; inconspicuous
 
Propagation:
seed
 
Usage:
an unusual and distinctive plant, used primarily as a filler for its display of showy red flowers; informal barrier or loose hedge plantings; valued for its great drought-tolerance
 
Landscape Care:
Watering an occasional deep soak; avoid over-watering in clay soils
Fertilizing none required
Pruning very little; head back if the growth becomes lanky
Pests/Diseases relatively free; root fungus diseases in heavy clay soils
Special Conditions/Other red flowers attract hummingbirds
 
Origin: Mojave Desert/Baja
Family: Acanthaceae

Notes:
 
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