Justicia californica aka Chuparosa

Justicia californica is a shrub in the acanthus family, Acanthaceae. Its native range runs from California into northwestern Mexico. It grows in desert and dry shrubland habitats. The RHS lists chuparosa honeysuckle as a common name. Kew describes its growth form as a subshrub or shrub. Virginia Tech describes a dense plant, rather than an open one. It reaches about 6 feet [1.8 metres] tall and wide. Its height and width can therefore be much the same.

The plant has few leaves for much of the year. Its gray-green bark and twigs remain clear to view. Fine hairs cover the twigs, giving their surface a soft look. When leaves appear, they grow in pairs along the stems. Each pair sits opposite, rather than alternating along the twig. The leaves vary from egg-shaped to triangular or almost round. They reach about 0.06 feet [0.02 metres] in length. Their blades feel somewhat thick, and their edges lack teeth. Both leaf surfaces may shine or bear fine hairs. This range of leaf shapes occurs within the species description.

Flowers grow in spikes at stem tips or leaf joints. Each flower has both male and female parts. The blooms form long tubes and stand out on the shrub. Their colours range from scarlet red to orange or yellow. Individual flowers reach about 0.17 feet [0.05 metres] long. Spring brings the strongest flush of bloom. With enough moisture, flowers can appear through most of the year. This long season depends on water, rather than a fixed calendar. The fruit is a rounded capsule covered with fine hairs. It reaches about 0.06 feet [0.02 metres] across.

Its dense shape and bright flowers give it garden interest. The bare green-gray stems also help define its form. Its desert range provides context, but not a full care guide. The supplied sources give no tested garden watering schedule. They also give no soil, light, or cold-hardiness limits. The moisture note concerns flowering, not a stated irrigation need. No supplied species account identifies pests or diseases. Nor do these accounts establish edible parts or safety. They offer no basis for calling the plant edible or non-toxic.