All zones of xeriscape, any well-draining soil. Bright flowers attract hummingbirds. A member of the family Acanthaceae, justicia is characterized by red or orange bilaterally symmetrical tubular flowers that occur in clusters. Most justicias throughout the tropics and subtropics are pollinated by hummingbirds, some of which have beaks that exactly match the curve of the flower. In the Sonoran Desert, flowers are persistent most of the year, but are most abundant in spring.
Ovate leaves are opposite on flattened stems and can be hairy or fuzzy.
As is typical of many desert species, the leaves are sometimes cold or drought-deciduous. Propagation Regional nurseries propagate justicias vegetatively. Stem tip cuttings can be rooted easily any time of year, under mist without any indolebutyric acid. After rooting, production is typically in gallons, with preliminary protection from frost in winter, and from full sun in summer. Justicia species typically establish rapidly in landscapes if given supplemental irrigation at least for the first year.