Acanthaceae
Firecracker Flower
Crossandra infundibuliformis
Devotion and beauty.
- Family
- Acanthaceae
- Genus
- Crossandra
- Native to
- India, Sri Lanka
- Bloom season
- Spring, Summer, Fall
- Type
- evergreen shrub
- Height
- 1-3 ft
- Sunlight
- part shade to full sun
- Soil
- rich, moist, well-drained
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- 10-12
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- In southern India, crossandra flowers are strung into garlands and worn in women's hair daily, not just for special occasions.
- The seeds have a unique dispersal mechanism: when wet, they become sticky and shoot out of the capsule explosively.
- The genus name comes from the Greek 'krossoi' (fringe) and 'aner' (male), referring to the fringed anthers.
- It is one of the most commercially important flowers in India's ornamental garland industry.
- In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, the plant is used as a remedy for fevers and as a hair tonic.
Color meanings
0
devotion
1
beauty
2
celebration