🌸 Crossandra

Crossandra is a major loose flower crop in South India and is valued for bright color, keeping quality, and garland use, especially in combination with jasmine. This lesson covers species, planting, nutrition, and long-duration crop management.

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Identity, Importance, and Species

Scientific name: Crossandra spp. Family: Acanthaceae

Crossandra is cultivated in India, tropical Africa, and Madagascar, mainly for hair adornment and garland making.

Commercially relevant species and forms include:

• Crossandra infundibuliformis
• Crossandra undulaefolia
• Related cultivated types such as orange, yellow, and red forms

Noted cultivar-level points:

• Orange type: tetraploid, generally seed setting.
• Delhi type: triploid, attractive deep orange flowers.
• Sebaculis red type: reported tolerance to nematode problems.

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Climate, Soil, and Field Conditions

Crossandra is a tropical crop and is sensitive to frost and low temperatures.

Best conditions:

• Temperature around 30°C for active growth.
• Well-drained soil rich in organic matter.
• Avoid alkaline/saline fields due to chlorosis risk.
• Partial shade can support better plant health in harsh conditions.

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Propagation and Planting

Propagation methods:

• Seeds
• Rooted cuttings (especially for triploid/seed-poor types)
• Seedlings raised in nursery/polybags

Planting recommendations:

• Common spacing: around 60 cm between rows and 30 cm between plants.
• Plant healthy seedlings or rooted cuttings in moist soil.
• Seedlings are generally transplanted at 4-6 leaf stage.

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Nutrient, Irrigation, and Interculture

Nutrient management:

• Basal FYM/compost application is essential.
• Follow with periodic top dressing of NPK as per local schedule.
• Fertilizer application should be followed by irrigation.

Irrigation:

• Maintain uniform moisture, especially during establishment and flowering.
• Shorter interval irrigation is needed during dry periods.

Interculture:

• Combine weeding, fertilizer application, and earthing up for efficiency.
• Pre-emergence weed control options may be used as recommended.

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Flowering, Harvest, and Crop Duration

Flowering behavior:

• Flowering starts around 2-3 months after planting.
• Production continues for long periods, with seasonal dips in heavy rains.
• Flowers open in sequence on the spike.

Harvesting:

• Picking is usually on alternate days.
• Spent spikes should be removed after flowering.
• Shelf life of picked loose flowers is limited; careful handling is necessary.

Crop duration:

• The crop can be maintained up to about 3 years including ratoon phase.

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Plant Protection

Major pest and disease concerns:

• Nematodes
• Aphids
• Wilt

Management focuses on:

• Avoiding infested fields
• Prophylactic root/soil treatment where required
• Timely plant protection sprays and sanitation

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Yield and Marketing

• Average loose flower yield is around 2,000 kg/ha/year.
• High-performing cultivars such as Delhi type may yield around 2,800 kg/ha/year under good management.
• Loose flowers are marketed in cloth/gunny packs or baskets with moisture retention.

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Summary Cheat Sheet

Topic	Key exam point
Crop type	Tropical loose flower ornamental
Main use	Hair adornment and garlands
Propagation	Seeds + rooted cuttings
Flowering start	About 2-3 months after planting
Crop duration	Up to about 3 years (with ratoon)
Key constraints	Nematodes, wilt, irregular moisture
Typical yield	~2,000 kg/ha/year (higher in Delhi type)

References

2 sources • [1] [2]

[1]

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

Official

[2]

National Horticulture Board (NHB)

Official