Justicia californica (Benth.) D. Gibson
Chuparosa, beloperone, hummingbird bush
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Asteridae A large class that encompasses asters
Order Lamiales Aromatic herbs and shrubs, including lavender, lilac, olive, jasmine, ash, teak, snapdragon, sesame, psyllium, garden sage, mint, basil, and rosemary
Family Acanthaceae Acanthus family, of tropical herbs and shrubs
Genus Justicia Named for James Justice, a Scottish horticulturist
Species californica “Of or from California”
About plant names...
Chuparosa, Spanish for "hummingbird," is native to desert regions in North America.
Identification: Chuparosa is found in the Sonoran
deserts between elevations of 1000′ (304 m) and 2500′ (762 m). It is a rounded shrub
up to 6′ (1.8 m) high and about twice as wide, with numerous gray-green branches. It drops its leaves during some seasons, but
if they are present, they are grayish green, with smooth edges and soft hairs, ¼-1″ (6.3-25 mm) long.
Leaves may be rounded, triangular, or egg-shaped.
It forms clusters of tubular scarlet or red-orange flowers, 1-2″ (2.5-5 cm) long, intermittently all year.
(Rarely, flowers are yellow.) Each flower has a
lower petal that curls downward and back somewhat, and a yellow-orange interior.
The flowers are usually oriented horizontally, perfect for the hummingbirds they attract.
Online References:
The Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association
as Compiled by the Master Gardeners of the University of Arizona Pima County Cooperative Extension
CalPhotos
Southeastern Arizona Wildflowers and the Plants of the Sonoran Desert
Desert-tropicals.com
Tucsonbotanical.org
The Sonoran Desert Naturalist
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
The Jepson Manual
2/17/2007 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California ID is uncertain
Not sure about the yellow flowers. · 2/17/2007 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California ID is uncertain
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California · ≈ 6 × 9″ (15 × 23 cm)
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)
Older scientific or horticultural names
Beloperone californica Benth.
Justicia californica description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
5/2/2018 · Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm)
5/2/2018 · Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm)
2/17/2007 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California ID is uncertain
5/2/2018 · Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm)
5/2/2018 · Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm)
5/2/2018 · Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)
5/2/2018 · Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)
Range: Zones 8b-10:
About this map...
Home   
Species