Arizona Foldwing
Dicliptera resupinata

Family: Acanthaceae

Herbacuous subshrub growing to about 2’ tall and spreading 3’. Purple flowers appear throughout the warm season, and this plant readily reseeds itself in the landscape.

Grow in full to shady spots. Provide moderate to regular water. Hardy to 25°F. This is an excellent choice for those difficult shady spots.

A good nectar plant for butterflies and hummingbirds. Larval food plant for the following butterfly species:

Pale-banded Crescent (Anthanassa tulcis)

Rosita Patch (Chlosyne rosita)

Texan Crescent (Anthanassa texana)

Dicliptera is from Greek referring to two folded wings, while resupinata means upside down due to twisting of the pedicel. There are 223 species of Dicliptera native to the tropics and subtropics worldwide.

Found on dry wooded slopes or flats from 3,000-6,000 ft. in southern Arizona, south into Sonora, Baja California, and continuing to the state of Guerrero.

Photo by praiaesol on iNaturalist
Dicliptera resupinata on SEINET