Chuparosa
Justicia californica (Benth.) D.N.Gibson
Also called chuparosa.
Nearly leafless green-stemmed shrub covered in tubular red flowers in late winter and spring — a key early nectar source for hummingbirds.
Size over time
Typical landscape size 0.9–1.5 m (3–5 ft) tall and 1.2–1.8 m (4–6 ft) wide; medium growth, about 6 years to maturity. Intermediate sizes use the planner’s growth curve (k = 0.25) from the #3 install size.
Bloom
Red-orange flowers, Feb–Apr (northern-hemisphere months; timing shifts with region and season).
| Plant | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chuparosa : Feb–Apr |
Design notes
- Drops leaves in drought; stems stay green.
- Freeze-damaged tips recover; prune after bloom.
Regions
Native range: Sonoran Desert of Arizona, California and Mexico.
Native to these OpenLandscape3D pilot regions:
Native status describes where the species occurs naturally. It is not a promise that it suits a particular garden; site conditions decide that.
Related plants
Plan with Chuparosa
Place it in a design, check it against your zone, light and moisture, and see it at year three and year ten.