Justicia Californica: How To Care For Chuparosa Plant

Technically known as Justicia californica, Chuparosa is Indigenous to the arid rocky slopes and desert washes of southern Arizona. For best results plant in sandy soil and water occasionally. This drought tolerant plant needs little water and thrives in the heat of the desert Southwest.

How To Care For Justicia Californica

Chuparosa is marvelously heat tolerant throughout hot summers, and even thrives in reflected heat from pavements. Full sun is the best exposure for optimum flowering with Justicia californica, though it tolerates light shade.

There’s not much concern about winter hardiness as the plants are evergreen to 20° F. Should temperatures dip below that point, the portions of the Chuparosa above the soil line will die off. Not to worry though, as your hummingbird magnet will quickly restore its growth once the weather warms again.

The common name, Chuparosa, is Spanish for hummingbird and they are instantly drawn to the tubular red blooms as soon as flowering begins in May. The color show continues until fall, giving you great interest alone and heightened by the continual presence of hummingbirds throughout the spring and summer seasons.

How Much Water Does Chuparosa Need

It is best planted in sandy soil with only one watering a week from mid-spring through fall. In winter, less moisture is necessary.

It is wise to remember that even desert natives that are purchased from a nursery will need watering attention during the acclimation period that always takes place for the first year planted in your ground soil.

This is best achieved with deep root drip irrigation that allows every bit of precious fresh water to be used by the plant and not lost to evaporation or draining beyond the root zone.

When To Trim Chuparosa

To get optimum growth and vigor, plan on fertilizing and pruning in late winter. The overall natural shape of the Chuparosa is somewhat rounded, though loosely structured. It will mature to 5-6 feet high and up to 12 feet wide over time.

Most of the year, Justicia is leafless, making it very open, airy and architectural in form. Even in full foliage in early spring, the plant is never dense.

How Do You Propagate Chuparosa

Chuparosa (Justicia californica) is easy to propagate. Just take a stem cutting in late spring or early summer. The cuttings should be placed in a mixture of half sand and half potting mix either in a container or in the ground.

Thanks to its native chosen environment in the wild, well chosen placement in the planting areas of your Arizona yard that have good drainage will no doubt be much to the delight of the Chuparosa.