Plant · GBIF taxon 3173104
Mexican Honeysuckle
Justicia spicigeraAlso known as Orange Justicia, Firecracker Bush, Mohintli, Muicle
Mexican honeysuckle forms lush, rounded mounds of velvety green foliage decorated year-round with bright tubular orange flowers. These vivid blossoms produce abundant nectar that serves as a primary food source for local hummingbirds across its native range. When bruised or soaked in water, its leaves release a blue-purple pigment traditionally used as a natural textile dye.
EvergreenAttracts HummingbirdsOrange Flowers
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Whiteflies
- Spider mites
- Caterpillars
ThreatsSevere frost, habitat conversion, invasive weed competition
HabitatsTropical dry forests, thickets, disturbance edges, and gardens
Life span10–20 years
Classification
- OrderLamiales
- FamilyAcanthaceae
- GenusJusticia
- SpeciesJusticia spicigera
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observing Pollinators: Stand quietly nearby during sunny morning hours to watch hummingbirds feed at the blossoms.
- Foliage Texture: Gently touch the velvety leaf surface to feel the soft fine hairs covering the foliage.
- Habitat Watching: Look low inside dense, mature bushes where small birds often take shelter.
Pollinator Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Frequent Companion (c) W. Terry Hunefeld, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by W. Terry Hunefeld · cc-by
Close Relative Rror / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Tomás Carranza Perales, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tomás Carranza Perales · cc-by
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.