Firecracker flower (Crossandra infundibuliformis) is a flowering evergreen shrub native to India and Sri Lanka. Firecracker flower is a common houseplant often grown in containers or planters. It grows well in temperate climates and its flower have no scent.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Crossandra infundibuliformis, the firecracker flower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Acanthaceae, native to southern India and Sri Lanka. It is most often found in south Indian regions Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,and kerala.
The common name “firecracker flower” refers to the seed pods, which are found after the flower has dried up, and tend to “explode” when near high humidity or rainfall. The “explosion” releases the seeds onto the ground, thereby creating new seedlings. The Latin specific epithet infundibuliformis means funnel or trumpet shaped.
The plant is an erect, evergreen subshrub growing to 1 m with glossy, wavy-margined leaves and fan-shaped flowers, which may appear at any time throughout the year. The flowers are unusually shaped with 3 to 5 asymmetrical petals. They grow from four-sided stalked spikes, and have a tube-like 2 cm stalk. Flower colors range from the common orange to salmon-orange or apricot, coral to red, yellow and even turquoise.
This plant requires a minimum temperature of 10 °C, and in temperate regions is cultivated as a houseplant. It is usually grown in containers but can be attractive in beds as well. The flowers have no perfume but stay fresh for several days on the bush. A well-tended specimen will bloom continuously for years. It is propagated by seeds or cuttings. This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. (confirmed 2017).
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Crossandra thrives in partial sunlight for at least four hours daily when growing outside. Dappled sunlight, or sunlight streaming through a tree’s canopy, can help shield the plant from the harsh afternoon heat. When growing Crossandra indoors, place the plant in bright, indirect sunlight. During the winter, Crossandra will provide plenty of indirect or artificial light.
Temperature and Humidity
Crossandra prefers warm, humid environments similar to its native Asia. Avoid starting plants when temperatures are below 55°F or when frost is present. Aim for climates that stay between 70°F to 75°F during the day when growing outdoors. Increase humidity for indoor plants using a tray of pebbles or misting with a water bottle.
Watering
Water Crossandra when the soil is dry—use your hands to feel the top few inches. Add a tray filled with pebbles when growing in containers to help drainage and prevent the plant from sitting in water. Crossandra likes humid conditions, so mist with a water bottle, especially during winter, but perennial plants need less water during the colder months. Avoid using too cold water because it can shock the roots of this tropical plant.
Soil
Plant Crossandra in well-draining soil that’s moist but not soggy. In the garden, choose loamy soil or amend the ground with peat or organic matter to assist with drainage. When growing in containers, choose potting soil with perlite or nutrient-rich soil. Balance the soil’s pH with a balanced fertilizer to keep it slightly acidic.
Fertilizing
Fertilize Crossandra monthly—every three to four weeks—during the spring and summer growing seasons with a balanced, granular, liquid fertilizer. Reduce feedings in the winter by half—once every two months.
Pruning
Prune Crossandra in the spring before the new growing season to promote a healthy plant. Remove damaged stems to make room for healthy stems, or use cuttings for propagating new plants. Deadhead spent or faded blooms to encourage a fresh flower showing. Avoid unwanted growth by removing flower spikes before seed production begins.
Propagation
Crossandra plants propagate from seeds and stem cuttings taken in the spring. Here is how to propagate Crossandra from stem cuttings:
- Before the growing season begins in the spring, use a sterilized, sharp knife or garden shears to take stem cuttings from a healthy plant. Cut just below the leaf node. The cutting should be about three to four inches long and contain several well-developed leaves and buds.
- Remove all but the top set of leaves and dip the cuttings into a rooting hormone to help development.
- Fill a container with seed-starting mix and place the cutting into the soil. Use your hands to pack the cutting in the mixture gently.
- Water and maintain a well-draining container.
- Use a plastic bag to encourage humidity. Continue to mist the plant with a water bottle until new growth emerges—usually about two to three weeks.
- After new sprouts emerge, transplant to a larger container or outside—weather permitting—as new plants grow quickly.
How to Grow from Seed
Start Crossandra by seed at any time when growing indoors. Using a seed-starting tray, fill the container with potting soil. Press the seeds into the soil, lightly cover, and mist with water. For best results, keep the container in an area with temperatures around 80°F. New growth should emerge in seven to 10 days—transplant sprouts to a larger container to accommodate rapid plant growth. Blooms appear about four months after starting seeds.
Potting and Repotting
Young Crossandra roots grow quickly, often needing transplanting to a larger container after the first year. Avoid unnecessary repotting because these plants can suffer from transplant shock—a rootbound plant should only move every three years or more. When moving Crossandra, choose a clay or terracotta pot with plenty of drainage holes, or use a tray filled with pebbles and fill it with perlite-rich potting soil—Water deeply the day before and the day of transplanting.
Overwintering
If growing Crossandra as an annual, no winter care is necessary. For perennial Crossandra plants, move them indoors before the first frost. Blooming will depreciate during winter, but maintain proper care by providing plenty of indirect sunlight, fertilizing every two months, and misting to provide humidity. Watering decreases during the winter, but continue to mist plant and remove any spent or faded blooms to make room for healthy, new growth in the spring.
Pests and Diseases
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Crossandra plants typically don’t succumb to pests or diseases. Still, a stressed plant can become a good meal for mealybugs, mites, and aphids. Signs of an infestation can include tiny web-like structures on your plant, as well as clumps of white powdery residue or visible insects. Treat infestations as soon as possible to prevent them from spreading to the rest of your plants. As always, start with the least toxic treatment option first, like spraying offenders with a blast from your garden hose, before progressing to products like a 70 percent diluted isopropyl alcohol solution or harsh chemicals.
Common Problems
Crossandra is a relatively easy-to-maintain plant, especially when grown as an annual. Some diseases still impact Crossandra, so here is what you need to know:
Leaves Turning Yellow
Yellow foliage most likely signifies overwatering. Overwatering causes several diseases to develop, including root rot. Avoid letting Crossandra sit in soggy soil, ensuring it completely drains between waterings. Bud and flower loss also accompany yellowing leaves.
Plant Leaves Falling Off
Crossandra needs proper sunlight and temperature requirements met to thrive. If growing in a dry climate, leaves can fall off after turning brown from underwatering. Underwatering also causes flower and leaf loss.
How to Get to Bloom
Crossandra loves to bloom all summer long and requires only a few conditions in order to do so. Make sure your crossandra gets ample sunlight during the day in a shady spot that will not get too hot. Severe low light conditions will cause a halt in flower production. Let your crossandra dry out just slightly before watering, as this will spur new blooms. Deadheading will also initiate new buds and flowers, so tidy your plant throughout the growing season for best results.
III. Types of Crossandra
While nearly 50 species of crossandra exist in the wild, there’s only one common species in the garden industry: Crossandra undulifolia (also sold as Crossandra infundibuliformis). That said, horticulturalists have introduced some color variations of this species. Favorites include:
- Crossandra infundibuliformis ‘Mona Wallhead’ is a tropical plant that features salmon-pink flowers and grows to a mature height of 12 to 18 inches. This cultivated variety is cold-hardy, withstanding temperatures no lower than 32 F.
- Otherwise known as ” yellow crossandra,” Crossandra infundibuliformis ‘Lutea’ bears rich, golden flowers and performs well in containers, where it blooms from spring until the first frost.
- Crossandra infundibuliformis ‘Orange Marmalade’ boasts excellent disease and pest resistance, and is a consistent performer, showing its bright orange flowers all season long. When used as a houseplant, this cultivar is known to bloom year-round.
IV. Uses and Benefits
- Ornamental uses
Butterfly gardens are the perfect location for firecracker flower, as the vibrant blooms attract butterflies and bees for much of the year, but especially during the summer. You can plant it in garden beds alongside other showy wildflowers. This plant also works as a potted plant that adds ornamentation to rooms and patios.
- Other uses
The flowers of Crossandra are used for several purposes but are primarily used for making decorative pieces like garlands, venis, and gajras that are used in South Indian festivals.
Other uses include keeping it indoors as a complementary piece with its waxy green leaves and fiery flowers that go quite well with any sort of aesthetic setting you put it in.
The extract from the Firecracker plant is also used to treat minor headaches, aperitif, fever, pain, and also wound healing.
