Firecracker Flower (Crossandra infundibuliformis)
Crossandra infundibuliformis

Evergreen Perennial (usually grown as an annual near you) Upright, Dense in the Acanthaceae Family
A compact, ever-blooming tropical subshrub with funnel-shaped salmon-apricot flowers and glossy, dense foliage - a popular houseplant and warm-climate landscape plant.

Crossandra infundibuliformis, commonly called Firecracker Flower, is a bushy, evergreen tropical subshrub native to India and Sri Lanka. It forms a dense, upright mound of glossy, dark green, wavy-edged leaves topped by tight spikes of funnel-shaped flowers that open in shades of salmon, apricot, or orange depending on the selection. In its native range and in USDA zones 10-11 it grows as a garden perennial; everywhere colder it is grown as a houseplant or warm-season container plant, where strong, indirect light can keep it blooming nearly year-round.

Pros

  • Long, often near-continuous bloom season given enough light
  • Compact, tidy habit suits pots, borders, and indoor growing
  • Glossy evergreen foliage looks good even between flushes of bloom
  • Few serious pest or disease problems

Cons

  • Not frost-hardy; must be grown as a houseplant outside zones 10-11
  • Needs consistently moist soil and benefits from extra humidity indoors
  • Flowering slows noticeably in low light
This plant is probably not winter-hardy outdoors where you live.
Why Like Native to tropical India and Sri Lanka, where it grows wild in open forest understories and scrubland, Firecracker Flower has long been cultivated locally for its cheerful, abundant blooms - a reminder that many beloved houseplants started life as wild tropical natives.
Highlights Nicknamed Firecracker Flower for its bright, funnel-shaped blooms held above glossy evergreen foliage; thrives as a houseplant anywhere outside its tropical zone 10-11 comfort range.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 12 - 36 inches tall. 12 - 24 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium : Needs consistently moist soil; not drought tolerant. Avoid letting the soil dry out completely between waterings, and water less in winter when growth slows.
Zones 10a - 11b (Usually hardy to 30° F)
Tags Evergreen, Full Sun, Medium, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial
Bloom Period Year-round indoors; seasonal outdoors
Flower Color Apricot To Salmon Pink
Foliage Color Green
 

More Info from Experts
Want More photos of this plant? Try Google Image Search!
 


Pricing and Availability History

Click a label to toggle visibility for that size



© North Shore Plant Club 2026. Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions.

Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


Benefits of Membership

Want a better way to get great plants and make your yard look awesome? Create your account below and get:

  • The best plants… from the same sources the pros use, but at near wholesale prices
  • More plants in more sizes than anywhere else… whether you’re looking for classics or rarities; annuals, perennials or shrubs; one plant or a whole yardful!
  • "No Contact" delivery or easy pick-up at a site near you without fighting the retail crowds. You choose!

Membership is free, but — since we rely on delivery and local pick-up — you have to live near one of our hubs (or be willing to drive to a site to pick them up). If you live farther away, and would like to help us bring the club to your neighbors, please email helpusgrow@northshoreplantclub.com.

Already a member?
Login
About Ordering From The Plant Club

To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.

Shoot us an email at help@northshoreplantclub.com, and we'll be happy to talk about plants or let you know when it's time to buy them!


No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!