Chuparosa
Justicia californica
Last reviewed: September 2026
Toxicity unknown
Chuparosa (Justicia californica) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
24"–60" H × 24"–60" W
Bloom
Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec
Native to
AZ, CA
Pollinators
hummingbirds
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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Sprawling, often nearly leafless shrub with gray-green stems and tubular red-orange flowers that appear over much of the year following rainfall, common along dry desert washes.
Wildlife value
Tubular flowers are a key hummingbird nectar source, especially in winter and early spring when little else is blooming.
Common questions
- How much sun does Chuparosa need?
- Chuparosa grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Chuparosa bloom?
- Chuparosa blooms in January, February, March, April, November, and December.
- Where is Chuparosa native?
- Chuparosa (Justicia californica) is native to AZ, CA, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- What pollinators does Chuparosa attract?
- Chuparosa draws hummingbirds.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Chuparosa? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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