Justicia carnea (Brazilian plume flower, "Sangobana")

Japanese name: サンゴバナ （珊瑚花）
Scientific name: Justicia carnea

[Overview]
A subshrub 1.5–2 m tall.
The stem is slightly four-ridged.
The leaves are simple and opposite, long ovate, 10–25 cm long and 5–10 cm wide.
The upper surface of the leaves is glossy, and the underside is sometimes tinged with reddish purple.
Some strains have leaves with many white hairs.
The leaf margins are entire and wavy.
It flowers all year round if the temperature is high.
Panicles 10–15 cm long are produced at the stem tips.
The flowers are two-lipped, 5 cm long, pale pink to deep pinkish red, and the lower lip is turned back.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings.
It can overwinter in the open ground in regions without frost or freezing.
It prefers sun to partial shade and fertile, well-drained soil.
If the sunlight is poor, it becomes leggy and flowers poorly.
Direct summer sun can scorch the leaves.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries from spring to autumn, and keep it on the dry side in winter.
For plants in the ground, watering is unnecessary unless sunny weather continues and the soil dries out.
Less fertilizer keeps the plant compact, so apply liquid fertilizer about once every 2 weeks from spring to autumn.
Pests and diseases include scale insects and spider mites.

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