Justicia californica (Benth.) D. Gibson
Chuparosa, beloperone, hummingbird bush
Chuparosa, Spanish for “hummingbird,” is native to desert regions in North America.
Plants: A rounded shrub up to 6′ (1.8 m) high and about twice as wide, with numerous gray-green branches.
Leaves: 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.
Flowers: It forms clusters of tubular scarlet or red-orange flowers, 1–2″ (2.5–5 cm) long, intermittently all year, especially May to early fall. (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.
Fruits: Elongated, club-shaped capsules ½–¾″ (1.5–2 cm), with an inflated tip. Each capsule contains 4 rounded, mottled seeds.
Habitats: In the Sonoran deserts between elevations of 1000′ (304 m) and 2500′ (762 m), and prefers desert washes, rocky slopes especially at the base of large granite boulders.
Online References:
Beloperone californica Benth.
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 · ≈ 5 × 8″ (12 × 20 cm) 
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California · ≈ 5 × 4½″ (13 × 11 cm) 
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California 
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California · ≈ 7 × 5″ (16 × 13 cm) 
5/2/2018 · Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm) 
5/2/2018 · Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 4½ × 4″ (12 × 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 · ≈ 5 × 3″ (13 × 8.1 cm) 
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm) 
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California · ≈ 5 × 5″ (13 × 12 cm) 
5/2/2018 · Joshua Tree National Park, California · ≈ 2½ × 3½″ (6.8 × 9 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| 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” |
Justicia californica description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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