Justicia spicigera

RHS Plant Profile

Mexican honeysuckle

Other common names

mohintli

Synonyms

Jacobinia ghiesbreghtiana, Jacobinia mohintli, Justicia ghiesbreghtiana, Sericographis mohintli

Shrubs Trees

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A compact, upright, bushy, tender perennial shrub to around 1.5m in height, with fresh green, velvety foliage, evergreen to semi-evergreen in milder areas of the UK. Masses of tubular-shaped, nectar-rich orange-red flowers appear from spring through to autumn, sometimes into winter if grown in milder, frost-free locations within the UK. Drought-tolerant once established

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1–2 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1B

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Acanthaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen, Semi evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Justicia can be evergreen perennials or shrubs, with simple leaves and spikes or clusters of tubular, 2-lipped flowers often with conspicuous bracts
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Americas

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in pots and containers in well-drained, loam-based, peat-free compost in a sunny location. Protect from very hot sun. Best as a conservatory or greenhouse plant

Propagation

Propagate by stem cuttings in spring to early summer. Pinch out regularly to encourage bushy growth. Water evenly throughout the growing season

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Conservatory and greenhouse
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Prune lightly in early to late spring to encourage bushy growth and flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse whitefly and aphids

Diseases

Generally disease-free