It is endemic to the Cape region of Baja California Sur, Mexico, where it is found growing in tropical deciduous forest and thorn scrub in canyons and along wet slopes.

The upper leaves gradually have shorter petioles until they become sessile cordate to broadly ovate bracts.

[5][6] This species can be distinguished from its close relative Justicia californica by the flowers that emerge from larger, persistent bracts and its non-tropical distribution.

J. californica meanwhile is restricted to more arid, desert climates and has small, insignificant bracts and shorter calyx lobes.

[3] It is found in the tropical dry forests and thorn scrub of the area, and is typically seen growing in the shady canyons and their rocky beds and on wet slopes, steep walls, hillsides, and ridges from 250–1,000 m (820–3,280 ft) in elevation.