Crossandra infundibuliformis is an erect, evergreen subshrub growing to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) 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 ¾ inch stalk. Flower colours range from the common orange to salmon-orange or apricot, coral to red, yellow and even turquoise.
How to Grow and Care
Crossandra is commonly seen as bedding plants in subtropical and tropical areas, where they are used for their wonderful color in light shade situations. These are among the few plants that provide months of lovely blooms in the bright shade—thus they are especially valuable when paired with other shade-tolerant plants for color, including impatiens, coleus, and shrimp plants.
Indoors, crossandra provide many of the same charms. They are tolerant of low light and provide long-lasting flowers that will provide constant color from late spring to autumn. You can also enhance the bloom by removing older and dying flowers. Better yet, the blooms are available in a wonderful array of pale peach and coral colors—not very common colors among indoor flowers. As a result, these plants will do well when grouped with other colorful plants, where they can be shown off to maximum advantage. That said, though, crossandra do have relatively high water and humidity requirements and cannot tolerate cold.
Light: These plants thrive best in bright, indirect sunlight. During summer, do not expose them to direct sunlight. In winter, provide as much light as possible. Indoors, your plants can do well with bright artificial light.
Soil: A rich, peat-based potting soil with excellent drainage is beneficial. If grown outdoors, it needs to be in a well-drained spot and will enjoy having compost provided for nutrients.
Water: During the growing season, water frequently and never allow the soil to dry out. They are very susceptible to drought. If you are growing them indoors in pots, you can water less often during the winter.
Fertilizer: Feed with a weak liquid fertilizer every two weeks throughout the growing season. Cut fertilizer back to once a month or so in the winter.
Origin: Crossandra infundibuliformis native to southern India and Sri Lanka.
Propagation
Crossandra readily roots from cuttings. For best results, take cuttings early in the spring growing season, use a rooting hormone, and plant the cuttings into seed-starting soil. Provide bottom heat and plenty of humidity until new growth emerges, then move to their permanent location. Young plants grow quickly and will likely need to be repotted within the first month before they begin to bloom.
- ALSO LEARN some more info HOW TO GROW AND CARE FOR Crossandra
- Scientific name: Crossandra infundibuliformis (L.) Nees
- Common Names: firecracker flower
- Synonyms: Crossandra undulifolia
- Family: Acanthaceae
- Subfamily: Acanthoideae
- Tribe: Acantheae
- Genus: Crossandra
How to Grow and Care
Crossandra is commonly seen as bedding plants in subtropical and tropical areas, where they are used for their wonderful color in light shade situations. These are among the few plants that provide months of lovely blooms in the bright shade—thus they are especially valuable when paired with other shade-tolerant plants for color, including impatiens, coleus, and shrimp plants.
Indoors, crossandra provide many of the same charms. They are tolerant of low light and provide long-lasting flowers that will provide constant color from late spring to autumn. You can also enhance the bloom by removing older and dying flowers. Better yet, the blooms are available in a wonderful array of pale peach and coral colors—not very common colors among indoor flowers. As a result, these plants will do well when grouped with other colorful plants, where they can be shown off to maximum advantage. That said, though, crossandra do have relatively high water and humidity requirements and cannot tolerate cold.
Light: These plants thrive best in bright, indirect sunlight. During summer, do not expose them to direct sunlight. In winter, provide as much light as possible. Indoors, your plants can do well with bright artificial light.
Soil: A rich, peat-based potting soil with excellent drainage is beneficial. If grown outdoors, it needs to be in a well-drained spot and will enjoy having compost provided for nutrients.
Water: During the growing season, water frequently and never allow the soil to dry out. They are very susceptible to drought. If you are growing them indoors in pots, you can water less often during the winter.
Fertilizer: Feed with a weak liquid fertilizer every two weeks throughout the growing season. Cut fertilizer back to once a month or so in the winter.
Origin: Crossandra infundibuliformis native to southern India and Sri Lanka.
Propagation
Crossandra readily roots from cuttings. For best results, take cuttings early in the spring growing season, use a rooting hormone, and plant the cuttings into seed-starting soil. Provide bottom heat and plenty of humidity until new growth emerges, then move to their permanent location. Young plants grow quickly and will likely need to be repotted within the first month before they begin to bloom.
- ALSO LEARN some more info HOW TO GROW AND CARE FOR Crossandra
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