Justicia spicigera - Mexican honeysuckle
Family Acanthaceae
Description:
Over four hundred species of Justicia are native to the world's tropics. Several have showy flowers and are grown in warm gardens. This plant is native to Mexico. Spikes of orange flowers are produced in summer. The flowers are attractive to large butterflies.
Size:
Shrub to about six feet tall.
Care Instructions:
Light: full sun to part shade
Water: moderately drought tolerant
Soil: ordinary, well-drained soil, no other special requirements
This tropical plant is not widely grown in north Florida. It is evergreen to the mid-20's F. We have not yet learned the winter temperature that kills it back to the ground, or kills it completely.