Crossandra

(Crossan'dra)

DESCRIPTION: These are tropical, evergreen, shrubby plants from India and Malaya. They have oval, deep green leaves, about 2 inches long and compact spikes of lilac, red or yellow, funnel-shaped flowers with prominent bracts. Their height ranges from 6 inches to 3 feet, depending on the variety.

C. infundibuliformis

POTTING: They love a compost of equal parts of loam and peat with sand added. They need a minimum winter temperature of 55 degrees. Old Crossandras can be grown on for several years to form large plants, but they are usually started from seeds or cuttings every year. Repotting should be done in February or March. The main shoots are shortened and sprayed often. When the new shoots form, they are transferred to slightly larger pots.

PROPAGATION: Shoots can be inserted in March in sandy peat in a propagating case. When they've formed roots they can be potted separately in 3-inch pots and later in the 5-inch pots in which they will bloom. Seeds may also be sown in pots of sandy peat in the spring.

VARIETIES:

C. guineensis;

C. infundibuliformis (undulaefolia).

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