Justicia spicigera
Light: Morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal in Phoenix; tolerates filtered shade. Avoid intense reflected heat.
Water: Low to moderate water once established; water deeply, then let the upper few inches of soil dry. Provide supplemental summer irrigation for fuller growth and better flowering.
Soil: Well-drained soil; tolerates sandy or alkaline soils. Add compost to very poor soil and avoid waterlogged conditions.
Mature size: 3–5 feet tall and 3–6 feet wide.
Bloom: Primarily spring through fall; may bloom intermittently in winter in frost-protected locations.
Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen in frost-free conditions; may lose leaves or die back during Zone 9b freezes, often regrowing from established roots in spring.
Growth rate: Moderate to fast with warmth and adequate moisture.