Description

Chuparrosa grows in valleys and washes in the deserts of Riverside and San Diego Counties as well as a few coastally affected portions of the peninsular ranges. There is even one occurence on Santa Catalina Island. It is the only California native from the mainly tropical family Acanthaceae. It grows as a rounded open shrub with green branches and small fleshy leaves. The leaves are often summer deciduous. This adaptation allows the plant to conserve moisture in the summer months. The tubular flowers of spring and early summer are usually red, but in the ‘Tecate Gold’ selection they are bright yellow. These are quite attractive to hummingbirds (Chuparrosa is the Spanish word for hummingbird). Like many desert plants, the chuparrosa responds well to some summer water with additional blooms. Although frost trender, Chuparrosa has grown for years in San Jose without protection from frost.