Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Shrub
  
Flowering Plants
  
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India
  
Southwestern United States, Mexico
  
Types
Orange, Dark Red (Ratan aboli), Yellow, Delhi Crossandra , Arka Ambara, Arka Kanaka (IIHR varieties)
  
Not Available
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Screen Cottage and Informal Garden, Urban areas, Wild
  
Alpine Meadows, moist forests, Open areas
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
  
4-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
10-9
  
9-1
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 24
  
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Upright/Erect
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Orange, Orange Red
  
Pink
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Brown
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Dark Green
  
Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Ovate
  
Long Linear
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Growth Rate
Medium
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Late Spring, Early Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Not Available
  
Pollution
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
  
Layering, Root Division, Stem Cutting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Water daily during growing season
  
Average Water Needs, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
  
cut main flower spike, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, remove old stems before spring
  
Fertilizers
Balanced liquid fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
chrysanthemum eelworms, Slugs, Snails
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Hummingbirds, Butterflies
  
Hummingbirds, Butterflies
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Unknown
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bouquets, Cottage Garden, Ground Cover, Hanging Basket, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Landscape Designing, Ornamental use, Water gardening
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
None
  
Environmental Uses
Agroforestry
  
Air purification, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Antibacterial, Aphrodisiac, Bronchitis, Cough, Liver problems, Menstrual Disorders
  
No Medicinal Use
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
  
Not Applicable
  
Other Uses
Basketary, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Beneficial species for attracting pollinators, deer resistant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Hedges, Tropical
  
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
  
Botanical Name
CROSSANDRA infundibuliformis
  
PENSTEMON barbatus 'Elfin Pink'
  
Common Name
Crossandra, firecracker flower
  
Beardlip Penstemon, Elfin Pink Penstemon
  
In Hindi
Crossandra
  
Elfin Pink Penstemon
  
In German
Crossandra
  
Elfin Pink Penstemon
  
In French
Crossandra
  
Elfin Pink Penstemon
  
In Spanish
Crossandra
  
Elfin Pink Penstemon
  
In Greek
Crossandra
  
Elfin Pink Penstemon
  
In Portuguese
Crossandra
  
Elfin Penstemon -de-rosa
  
In Polish
Crossandra
  
Elfin Różowy Penstemon
  
In Latin
Crossandra
  
Elfin Pink Penstemon
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Angiosperms
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Scrophulariales
  
Lamiales
  
Family
Acanthaceae
  
Scrophulariaceae
  
Genus
Crossandra
  
Penstemon
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Not Available