As the plant receives more sun, the amount of creamy white on the speckled leaves will increase, and vice versa.

The bracts start out white, but with more sun exposure they turn anywhere from pale pink to deep salmon.

Pollination is usually by hummingbirds The family Acanthaceae is in the major group Angiosperms (flowering plants).

[4] Research has been done on the phytochemical components of the numerous Justicia species, showing that they possess antitumor, antiviral and antidiabetic activity.

As it dislikes temperatures below 7 °C (45 °F), in cooler temperate areas it is best grown under glass,[2] where it is excellent as a potted houseplant, owing to its ability to tolerate low light and some neglect.

Numerous cultivars are available, with different flower bract colors, including yellow, pink and dark brick-red.

It therefore requires trimming back annually if it is to hold its shape and retain a desirable size.