Crossandra grows to a height of about 12 to 18 inches tall, producing dark green foliage with the glossy leaves resembling Gardenia plant leaves. Crossandra plants (Crossandra infundibuliformis) can be thought of as slightly easier cousins of the hibiscus, though they aren’t related. Also known as firecracker flower, crossandra is native to Sri Lanka and southern India. It features narrow, oblong leaves and showy peach or coral flowers. It’s grown as a bedding plant in tropical and subtropical areas and as an annual in northern areas. It also can be grown indoors. Crossandra is best planted in the spring and is a moderate to fast grower. If you meet its requirements for moisture and light, your plant should bloom in about seven months. Plus, when growing crossandra plants outdoors, they’re known to attract butterflies.