Merge pull request matplotlib#31689 from meeseeksmachine/auto-backport-of-pr-31666-on-v3.11.x

Backport PR matplotlib#31666 on branch v3.11.x (plt.stairs: fix unit handling for orientation="horizontal")

Author: timhoffm

lib/matplotlib/axes/_axes.py

@@ -7762,8 +7762,12 @@ def stairs(self, values, edges=None, *,
         if edges is None:
             edges = np.arange(len(values) + 1)
 
-        edges, values, baseline = self._process_unit_info(
-            [("x", edges), ("y", values), ("y", baseline)], kwargs)
+        if orientation == "vertical":
+            edges, values, baseline = self._process_unit_info(
+                [("x", edges), ("y", values), ("y", baseline)], kwargs)
+        else:
+            edges, values, baseline = self._process_unit_info(
+                [("y", edges), ("x", values), ("x", baseline)], kwargs)
 
         patch = mpatches.StepPatch(values,
                                    edges,