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Firecracker Flower Wikimedia Commons
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

Uses

  • floral garlands
  • ornamental
  • traditional medicine