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perennial

Chuparosa

Justicia californica

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Chuparosa (Justicia californica) at Lakeshore Garden Centres

Chuparosa flowers

Chuparosa flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Chuparosa (Justicia californica) at Lakeshore Garden Centres

Chuparosa

Chuparosa

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  4 feet

Spread:  4 feet

Sunlight:  full sun 

Hardiness Zone:  8b

Other Names:  Beloperone, Hummingbird Bush

Description:

A compact shrub producing bright scarlet red tubular flowers from dark red buds, in spring; summer deciduous, and highly tolerant of heat and humidity; drought tolerant once established; great for patio containers, or along sunny borders

Ornamental Features

Chuparosa features airy racemes of scarlet tubular flowers at the ends of the branches from late winter to late spring, which emerge from distinctive dark red flower buds. Its small oval leaves emerge light green in spring, turning grayish green in colour throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Chuparosa is an open multi-stemmed perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

  • Self-Seeding

Chuparosa is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Accent
  • Mass Planting
  • Rock/Alpine Gardens
  • General Garden Use
  • Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
  • Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Chuparosa will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. Although it is technically a woody plant, this plant can be expected to behave as a perennial in our climate if planted outdoors over the winter, usually regrowing from its base (crown) the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat. As this plant tends to go dormant in summer, it is best interplanted with late-season bloomers to hide the dying foliage.

This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. This plant will benefit from an application of bonemeal and/or mycorrhizal fertilizer at the time of planting. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is native to parts of North America..

Chuparosa is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, most plants cannot be expected to survive the winter if left in containers outdoors, and this plant is no exception. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.

This plant is not reliably hardy in our region, and certain restrictions may apply; contact the store for more information.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Accent  Massing  Rock  Garden  Naturalizing  Container 
Applications
Flowers  Bark  Winter Value  Attracts Wildlife 
Ornamental Features