What Is a Firecracker Flower?
Two plants are commonly known as the firecracker flower. The first, Crossandra infundibuliformis is a decorative shrub native to India and Sri Lanka but grown as a decorative plant throughout warm regions around the world. It sometimes is called crossandra when paired with the blossom’s color, such as the yellow crossandra or orange crossandra. Dichelostemma ida-maia, a red wildflower native to northern California and Oregon, also is referred to as the firecracker flower. Crossandra infundibuliformis is a perennial shrub with broad, dark leaves and bright flowers that remain for most of the year. These five-petal blossoms grow in a variety of bright colors, including yellow, pink, red, orange and even turquoise. Although its petals are easily knocked away by the elements or even by heavy watering, the blossoms can remain for most of the year. Rainfall or high humidity also can make the plant’s seed pods pop, and the firecracker flower gets its name from these exploding pods.
