Red Justicia. Justicia candicans, Acanthus Family: ( Acanthaceae ), Red Justicia. Previously known as Justicia ovata. Also called: Firecracker Plant, Arizona Water Willow, Hummingbird Bush. We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the information on this page. We share images and information with Wikipedia. This is a very popular landscaping plant in arizona and it is considered a deciduous shrub. It is deciduous shrub up to about 6 feet in height, gray-green succulent plant, with tubular red tflowers, native to deserts of Arizona, and Mexico. Hummingbirds are attracted to it. Quick Notes: Height: Evergreen bush slowly growing to about 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Flowers: The flowers are bright red, tubular, to about 1" long. The upper lip of the flower is two-lobed and the lower lip is three-lobed. The anthers have white tips. They are sympetalous, zygomorphic. Flowering Time: Mid February - November. Leaves: The leaves are bright, evergreen heart-shaped leaves, simple leaves, and up to 1" long. The stems and leaves are covered with hairs. Found: The USDA claims Justicia candicans is native of the USA (AZ). In Arizona it is native of Maricopa, Pima, & Santa Cruz counties. It is also native to Sonora, Mexico. Hardiness: USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 �C (15 �F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 �C (20 �F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 �C (25 �F) USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 �C (30 �F) USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 �C (35 �F) Soil pH requirements: 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) 7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline) Sun Exposure: Full Sun Elevation: 0 Feet - 2,500 Feet. Habitat: Alkaline, Chalky/alkaline, Dry, Sandy, Well-drained/light soils, sandy washes. An ideal xeriscape landscape plant in Arizona. Miscellaneous: Flowering Photos Taken March 24, 2003. Glendale, Arizona. Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping. If Red Justicia freezes to the ground, prune away the old stems in March. It regrows quickly.