Crossandra
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| Species: | C . infundibuliformis |
Crossandra infundibuliformis, the Firecracker Flower, is a species of plants in the family Acanthaceae, often cultivated for its colorful flowers. This is a very popular tropical flower known as Firecracker. Its scientific name is Crossandra infundibuliformis and the family Acanthaceae. Family wise they are related to such houseplants as the Zebra Plant (Aphelandra squarrosa), Black-eyed Susan Vine (Thunbergia alata), Shrimp Plant (Beloperone guttata), Nerve Plants (Fittonia) and Ruellia. They are evergreen and bloom continuously almost throughout the year. They are sensitive to cold and can’t stand below 50*F. The plants are native to Southern India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. It is usually grown in containers but can be attaractive in beds as well. Flower colors range from the common orange to salmon-orange or apricot, coral to red, yellow and even turquoise. The flowers are unusually shaped with 3 to 5 asymmetrical petals. They grow from four-sided stalked spikes. They have a tube like ¾ inch stalk which makes it easier to string them for a garland. These tiny flowers are often strung together into strands, sometimes along with white jasmine flowers and therefore in great demand for making garlands which are offered to temple deities or used to adorn women’s hair. The flowers have no perfume but stay fresh for several days on the bush. A well tended specimen will bloom continuously for years. The leaves are glossy and most striking. It is propagated by seeds or cuttings.
The main reason they are known as "Firecrackers" is because their seed pods, which are found after the flower has dried up, tend to "explode" when near high humidity or rainfall. The "explosion" releases the seeds onto the ground, thereby creating new seedlings.Its is popularly known as Kanakambram flowers in telugu.
In South India, Kanakambaram is the favourite flowers of ladies to put in their hair. It competes strongly with jasmine to adorn the south-Indian hair-do's. The crossandra is in the family with Mexican petunias, or ruellias, and the Mississippi Medallion award-winning yellow shrimp plant. This tropical from India and Sri Lanka offers a welcome orange, salmon or yellow to the filtered-light area. In addition to the flowers that are practically non-stop for the entire season, the foliage also offers added interest. The leaves are glossy and most striking. Choose a site with well-drained, fertile soil with perhaps a little morning sun. If you have tight, heavy clay soil, the crossandra will reward you for incorporating 3 to 4 inches of organic matter. As the plant grows, keep it deadheaded and pinched back; it will maintain a bushy shape and keep blooming with each new flush of growth.
Blooming Time: Late Winter to Late Autumn. The tube-shaped blossoms are flattened into a 5-lobed disk.
Culture: Crossandra infundibuliformis need part shade to full sun. The compost should consist of equal parts of loam and peat moss with sand added for drainage. The compost should be kept moist but not overly wet. Fertilize weekly with a balanced fertilizer diluted to ½ the strength recommended from March to October. The temperature should never drop below 55 degrees or the leaves will turn black. While this doesn’t seem to harm the plant, it does make it unsightly. Trim the plants often to keep a desired form. Repotting should be done in February.
Propagation:
Crossandra infundibuliformis are easily propagated by cuttings taken in March or by seed.
- Light: Full sun to semi-shade.
- Moisture: Regular watering moderately. Do not let soil dry out between waterings and maintain relatively high humidity. One way is to let your potted plant sit atop small stones laid on a tray of water. Or regular misting of their foliage is encouraged, never on their delicate blooms though.
- Soil: Well-drained fairly fertile soil. Preferably equal parts of loam and peat moss, plus sand for good drainage.
- Propagation: Propagation by tip or stem cuttings, taken when pruning plant in Spring or germination of seeds. It self-sows readily too.
- Features: Crossandra infundibuliformis is a small evergreen ornamental shrub that is relatively low. It grows to a height of 1-3 feet, depending on the cultivar and spread as wide.
Firecracker Flower as commonly named, grows vigorously in the Tropics where there is abundant rain, sun and humidity.
Foliage is dark green and glossy, with oval (some have ruffled) leaves, about 2-5 inches long. The flowers are unusually shaped with asymmetrical petals spreading to form a 3-5 lobed disk, arising from slender 0.75-1 inch long corolla tubes that sprout from 4-6 inch long four-sided spikes.
Flower colors range from the common orange to salmon-orange or apricot, coral to red, yellow and even turquoise. Their fragile flowers are easily damaged by rain, otherwise can be quite long-lasting.
These low ornamental shrubs are generous bloomers all year round, often beginning to bloom when only a few inches tall. - Usage: Crossandra infundibuliformis will make excellent container or tub plants for patios and decks. Popularly grown indoors as a flowering houseplant, especially the dwarf cultivar that grows not taller than 1.5 feet. Being compact and small, it would be ideal outdoors in landscape gardening or borders with a mixed crowd of annuals or perennials. Great shrub for hedges and fencing too.
In India, the orange flowers of Kanakambaram or Firecraker Plant are favorites with the ladies, to adorn their hair or tied with jasmine flowers and offered in temples.
It is most attractive to insect pollinators such as the butterflies and dragonflies. Sharing here an image of the fabulous Crimson Dropwing dragonfly and another of the Clouded Skipper, Lerema accius that visited our Firecracker Plants.
- Care: Firecracker Flower is quite an easy plant to maintain. Provide sufficient water, bright light and high humidity, as well as feed fortnightly with a balanced fertilizer, half the recommended strength, and it will be a happy bloomer throughout the year. It is sturdy and a survivor, so do trim often to keep it tidy, bushy and compact. It is least bothered by pests and diseases, though do check their leaves for spider mites and white flies occasionally to prevent infestation.
- For temperate zones: Hardiness – USDA Zone 10a, 10b and 11. Locate in high light, preferably south window in winter and bright indirect light the rest of the year for best flowering. Summer outdoors in partial shade or full sun. Minimum winter temperature 55 degrees F and avoid drafts.
These are some of the Crossandra infundibuliformis cultivars :
- ‘Lutea’ (Yellow Crossandra) – bright deep rich yellow flowers.
- ‘Tropic Flame’ (Orange Crossandra) – bright orange-salmon flowers.
- ‘Nile Queen’ (Red Crossandra) – bright red flowers.
- ‘Shamrock’ (Green Ice Crossandra, Turquoise Crossandra) – turquoise flowers.
There is another plant Dichelostemma ida-maia, bearing the same common name (Firecracker Flower) as Crossandra infundibuliformis. Without doubt, the former with its stunning cluster of deep crimson tubular flowers and cuffed apple green, resembles the firecrackers perfectly, hence the common name. Just be sure, you’re buying your correct plant!
Crossandra infundibuliformis was featured as Plant of the Week June 16-23, 2000.
