Sonoran Water Willow
Justicia sonorae
Family: Acanthaceae
This is a smallish shrub, growing to about 2’ tall and wide. They can be evergreen in warm spots, but may drop foliage in cooler weather, or the foliage may turn somewhat purple. Almost any time of year plants produce tubular purple flowers. Plants reseed readily in the landscape.
Plant in full sun to even shady spots. Plants are leggier in the shade, but will still bloom there and are a nice option for shady spots. Plants in more sun will bloom more profusely and be more compact, but will require more water. Cold in the mid 20s °F will freeze plants back but they can re-emerge from the base, and may be able to withstand cold temps into the teens.
Flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds. Butterfly larval food plant for for many butterflies including these likely candidates:
Malachite (Siproeta stelenes ssp. biplagiata)
Rosita Patch (Chlosyne rosita)
Chara Checkerspot (Dymasia dymas ssp. chara)
Pale-banded Crescent (Anthanassa tulcis)
Fritzgaertner's Flat (Celaenorrhinus fritzgaertneri)
The flowers are edible.
There are 923 species which are native to tropical to warm temperate regions of the Americas, India, and Africa. Justicia is named for James Justice (1698–1763) a Scottish botanist and horticulturalist, while the species name sonorae refers to the region this plant is native to.
Found in thornscrub and desert areas, in riparian zones, of Sonora, Mexico.