Ixora RedDescription, History & Interesting Facts:

This gorgeous tropical, evergreen shrub is a member of the Rubiaceae family, which includes the Coffee plant and Gardenia. It is native to India and is widely grown in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world.

Red Ixora flowers are commonly used in Hindu worship; and the roots, leaves and flowers are used in Indian folk medicine as an antiseptic, and to treat skin diseases, colic, flatulence, diarrhoea, indigestion, ulcers and wounds.  It is a favourite with bonsai growers and will flower when only a few inches high.

The Jungle Geranium is a dense, multi-branched shrub with leathery dark green leaves and large clusters of flowers; blooming continuously in warm weather, and attracting butterflies to your garden.  It is available in a number of cultivars, with bright coloured flowers in shades of red, rose, pink, salmon, orange and yellow. The flowers are followed by soft-fleshed berries, which are relished by birds. Many cultivars and hybrids have been bred in the last couple of decades, leading to the resurgence in popularity of the beautiful 'Flame of the Woods'.

The named cultivars differ in flower and plant size from 1m to 3m tall; with some of the most popular cultivars being dwarfs, staying under 1m.  Ixora compacta grows +-60 to 75cm high; cultivars include 'Citrinus' with gorgeous heads of yellow flowers and small leaves, 'Insignis' with its striking, bright red flowers, and 'Sunkist' with its striking orange- red flowers.

(Ixora longifolia) grows +-2.5 to 3m tall and has large leaves and beautiful orange flowers; cultivars include 'Prince of Orange' with its orange flowers and 'Saffron Yellow' with its lovely yellowish-orange flowers.

In the Garden:

The Jungle Geranium grows beautifully in containers and is great as a patio or poolside plant; if clipped occasionally, it can look very distinguished.

It looks at its best if allowed to grow as an informal hedge or screen, and is often planted near the foundations of buildings to help disguise them.

It is wonderful in massed flowering beds; and in tropical regions, where it can grow much larger it is even trained into a small tree.

(Ixora coccinea) is a tight, compact shrub which tolerates hard pruning, making it ideal for formal hedges, although pruning the plants too often will result in fewer blooms.

In cooler climates, it can only be grown in a heated greenhouse, but you could try it as a potted house plant in a sunroom or conservatory, where it will receive bright light, or filtered sunlight.

Cultivation/Propagation:

Ixora thrives in the humid sub-tropical regions of the country and is tender to frost and low temperatures.

In regions with only occasional light frosts, the plants could be cut right down to the ground, but quickly recover again in spring if the roots are mulched.

Plants will grow in semi-shade to sun but plants in more sun will be denser and more compact, and produce more flowers than plants grown in too much shade; ideally the plants should receive about 4 hours of sunlight per day; in the warmest regions they will appreciate some shade during the hottest hours of the day.

The Jungle Geranium enjoys a deep, fertile, acidic soil (pH 5.6 to 6.0) which drains well; and requires regular watering during warm weather; water less in winter. It is moderately salt tolerant, but not at all tolerant of alkaline soils, which will cause the leaves to become chlorotic (yellowish). Mulch your plants in early summer with compost and prune when necessary. Fertilise every 2 to 4 weeks in spring and summer and every 4 to 8 weeks in winter

Propagate from softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings taken in spring or summer; cuttings should preferably have 3 to 4 nodes, are root easier with bottom heat.

Problems, Pests & Diseases:

Watch out for attacks from scale insects.