Justicia floribunda (J.J.Veitch) Wassh.

Scientific Classification

Justicia floribunda (J.J.Veitch) Wassh. is a species of flowering plant that belongs to the acanthus family, Acanthaceae.

Native Distribution

It is native to southern Brazil, Paraguay, and Misiones Province in northeastern Argentina.

Growth Habit

This plant is a dwarf, rounded evergreen shrub that grows 30–60 cm (12–24 in) tall and wide.

Foliage Characteristics

It has downy stems and leaves, and one leaf in each leaf pair is smaller than the other.

Flower Description

It produces spikes of nodding, tubular flowers that are yellow, and shade to scarlet at the base.

Cultivation Requirements

J. floribunda needs a frost-free environment to grow, so it is often cultivated under glass in temperate regions.

Common Name

It is commonly called Brazilian fuchsia, despite not being closely related to true fuchsias.

Horticultural Award

This plant has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.