Justica californica

AKA Chuparosa or Belaperone, Justica californica is a native of the Southern California desert to Arizona and Northern Mexico. It is a large clumpy shrub which, in our garden, has been a source of many surprises. Some desert natives are so difficult to transplant that I am always amazed at this plants ability to spring up in unlikely places in our garden.
Chuparosa is evergreen if it receives enough rain or water, but it takes on a leafless appearance otherwise. In this state, it may be mistaken for Desert Senna. With adequate moisture, however, from fall to spring, tubular red ( sometimes yellow ) flowers create a showy spot of color in the garden and are a great attraction to humming birds. The wild looking shrub clusters provide shelter for numerous small desert critters. Snakes seem to appreciate the heavy masses of stems. I have seen these reptiles and lizards often take cover under these plants.
Though new plants provide tender tidbits for rabbits, we have noticed that they spring up amidst a " nurse plant " ,often Dalea...sometimes, cacti...never to be noticed until they flower and have attained height...SURPRISE! It's almost like being presented with a gift! I would estimate that chuparosas have almost doubled in numbers since our garden was first started. They are easy to transplant if you dig down into an old cluster and obtain roots. New plants should be caged and kept moist until established. We have never cut back our plants, but, if desired, you can trim them to encourage bushiness.

This wild looking native plant greatly enhances a desert garden by providing spots of color and fill for bare spaces. Ours seem to have reproduced naturally along natural slopes or run- off areas in the garden.

The publication, Temalpakh, by Bean and Saubel, relates the Chauilla loved the sweet taste of chuparosa flowers ...called them pisily. I washed the delicate flowers once and added them to a salad to create interest and give people a sense of gastronomic desert history. It did lead to an entertaining culinary discussion! ( Yes, they ARE sweet! )