Justicia brandegeeana
Light: Bright filtered light or gentle morning sun; protect from Phoenix afternoon sun and reflected heat.
Water: Moderate, consistent moisture; water deeply when the top 1–2 inches of soil dry. Containers may need frequent watering during Phoenix summers. Reduce watering in winter; avoid soggy soil.
Soil: Well-drained, organically enriched soil; use a quality container mix in pots. Mulch garden plantings, keeping mulch away from stems.
Mature size: Usually 3–5 feet tall and 2–3 feet wide as a braided standard, depending on training, container size, and pruning.
Bloom: Repeatedly from spring through fall; may bloom nearly year-round in warm, frost-free conditions. Extreme summer heat can reduce flowering.
Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen in frost-free conditions; may lose leaves or suffer stem dieback during Phoenix freezes.
Growth rate: Moderate to fast during warm weather with adequate water and nutrition.