The firecracker flower, or Crossandra infundibuliformis, is a species of flowering plant in the Acanthaceae family that is indigenous to southern India and Sri Lanka. Malenadu and Kerala in southern India are where it is most frequently found.
It is an upright, evergreen subshrub that can reach a height of one metre. Its glossy, wavy-margined leaves and fan-shaped flowers can bloom at any time of the year. Three to five asymmetrical petals give the blooms their distinctive shape. They develop from four-sided stalked spikes and have a 2 cm stalk that resembles a tube. The typical orange flower can also be salmon-orange, apricot, coral, red, yellow, or even turquoise.
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This plant requires a minimum temperature of 10 °C, and in temperate regions is cultivated as a houseplant. It is usually grown in containers but can be attractive in beds as well. The flowers have no perfume but stay fresh for several days on the bush. A well-tended specimen will bloom continuously for years. It is propagated by seeds or cuttings.
The tiny flowers are often strung together into strands, sometimes along with white jasmine flowers and therefore in great demand for making garlands which are offered to temple deities or used to embellish women's hair.
This plant is grown as a houseplant in temperate climates and needs a minimum temperature of 10 °C. Although it is typically grown in pots, it can also look good in beds. Although the blossoms on the bush don't have a scent, they remain fresh for several days. A well-cared-for specimen will bloom year after year. Cuttings or seeds are used for propagation.
The tiny flowers are in high demand for constructing garlands that are dedicated to temple deities or used to adorn women's hair because they are frequently strung together into strands, sometimes with white jasmine flowers.