Exotic flare of Crossandra ‘Orange Marmalade’

‘Orange Marmalade’ is the most interesting of the Firecracker plants from southern India and Sri Lanka. Although it grows as a jungle shade plant, we find success using it as a tropical bedding plant in full Cincinnati sun. It’s known for the frilly orange flowers, shaped like butterflies, that sit on top of long spear-shaped stems.

Plant Crossandra either in full sun or partial shade, as long it has access to regular food and water. Dry soil is its Achille’s heel, even for a short run. In the garden, treat it as a mid-sized annual, especially for the summer. ‘Orange Marmalade’ is one of those flowers that keeps appearing even when the temperature passes 90°. After one summer’s growth the plant can gain about two feet in height.

Blooms emerge one after the other from a spear tip that continues to grow

The real payoff is the full display. Nearly everyone focuses on the asymmetrical flower, but a mass planting is the better look. Each bloom builds on top of the last one, creating a spear that grows longer and longer with the season. In the end, the planting is covered with a small tropical forest tipped with orange butterfly blossoms across the spear tops.

In the homescape, ‘Orange Marmalade’ does well as one of those specimen patio plants that shifts with the seasons: outdoors during the summer and indoors during the winter. It blooms nearly year-round because it doesn’t mind winter light or summer sun. As a tropical it doesn’t understand seasons so it keeps on doing what it does best.

If you are creating a pollinator garden we recommend mixing in the short Vista Salvia, some Lucky Lantana, or possibly small Coleus like ‘Wizard Coral Sunrise’.