Crossandra pungens

Grown from 2 to 5 feet tall. It's native to Eastern Africa, however, you might be surprised how well it can thrive in warmer climates.

Crossandra pungens (Firecracker Plant) will give you an easy-to-maintain living tapestry of colors and textures throughout the summer months. This flowering shrub will provide plenty of brilliant yellow and orange flowers. It's a stunning ornamental year round and its flowers will attracted hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden.

The firecracker plant grows well in semi-shade and it requires regular water to thrive. When using it as a groundcover, it's best to keep it low-growing, no more than 2ft tall. If you're growing it as a shrub, you'll need to prune it regularly to give it shape. In colder regions it can be kept in pots so it can be transferred indoors if needed.

Growing the firecracker plant in a pot in cold regions requires good drainage, plenty of water, and a bit of extra tender loving care. You'll want to make sure the soil is rich in nutrients and let it dry between watering. Be sure to move it to a warm spot for the cooler months and mulch to keep the roots of the plant warm and stable.

Similar plants:

• Crossandra infundibuliformis, Crossandra undulifolia Orange (Tropic Flame)
• Crossandra infundibuliformis, Crossandra undulifolia Shamrock, Ecbolium viride (Green Shrimp, Green Ice Crossandra, Turquoise Crossandra)
• Crossandra infundibuliformis, Crossandra undulifolia Yellow (Yellow Crossandra)
• Crossandra Nile Queen (Red crossandra)
• Crossandra zuluensis (Crossandra)