Gregg's Tube Tongue
Justicia pilosella
Also known as: Turner's Water-Willow
- Native to:
- Mexico, United States
iNaturalist user: seekingtrees
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Acanthaceae
- Genus:
- Justicia
- Species:
- Justicia pilosella
- USDA Symbol:
- JUPI5
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Subshrub
- Height:
- 30 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- purple, lavender
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Dymasia Satyr (Dymasia dymas), Elada Texola (Texola elada), Painted Crescent (Phyciodes pictus), Rosita patch (Chlosyne rosita), Texan crescent (Anthanassa texana), Vesta crescent (Phyciodes vesta)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Butterflies:Microtia elada, Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor), Vesta Crescent (Phyciodes graphica)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- butterflies, bees, hummingbirds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from roots after fire; common in fire-maintained grasslands and savannas of South Texas.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- native to tropical and subtropical regions