Brainerd Dispatch: Ask the Master Gardener: Crossandra, the firecracker flower, can thrive in the right conditions Dear Master Gardener: I just purchased a lovely orange flowering plant called Crossandra "Sundance." Will it last a long time as a houseplant or is it a seasonal plant that doesn’t last long? Answer: ... Ask the Master Gardener: Crossandra, the firecracker flower, can thrive in the right conditions Q-Several weeks ago I received a plant labeled ”crossandra.” It has shiny medium to dark green leaves, something like those of a gardenia but not as thick, and at the beginning there were spikes of ...

Understanding the Context

It flowers beautifully. It blooms almost continuously. It grows in shade or sun. And it thrives equally well in containers or in garden soil.

Key Insights

So why aren’t more gardeners growing Crossandra? Not sure. Crossandra, commonly known as the "firecracker flower," is a tropical plant admired for its vivid, colorful blooms and glossy green leaves. This versatile plant can be grown either as an annual or perennial outdoors, depending on the climate, or as a houseplant indoors. Crossandra (Crossandra infundibuliformis) is a tropical, evergreen shrub native to Asia.

Final Thoughts

It grows about 2 feet tall and wide indoors and outdoors. Its near-continuous blooming sends spear-shaped spikes above its glossy, deep-green foliage in mild, warm weather. Crossandra, also called the firecracker flower, is a tropical subshrub with showstopper flowers. They’re often salmon or apricot but can be found in shades of yellow, red, or pink.