Crossandra infundibuliformis comes from the humid understory forests of India and Sri Lanka, and its preferences have not changed in cultivation: bright indirect light, warmth, and consistent moisture are the conditions it needs to perform. In tropical climates it grows as a shrubby evergreen perennial to 3 feet, with glossy deep-green foliage that sets off the salmon-apricot flower spikes beautifully. In temperate regions it is grown as a houseplant or summer annual, where it brings sustained color through fall in conditions most flowering plants find challenging.

The five-petaled, asymmetrical flowers are carried on erect stems and open in sequence, providing weeks of bloom if the spent stems are cut back promptly before seed pods form. Indoors, humidity is the critical variable: a pebble tray with water beneath the pot, regular misting in dry months, and watering with warm rather than cold water will prevent the root shock and leaf drop that cold, dry conditions cause. Stem cuttings taken early in the growing season root readily with heat and rooting hormone. Though pests are occasional, the plant is generally vigorous and disease-resistant when its humidity requirement is met.