Red Ixora Ixora coccinea Play pronunciation

The jungle geranium is a tropical, flowering broadleaf evergreen shrub native to Western and Southern India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Indo-China. It is often seen growing in southern Florida. It grows 4 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide with a rounded, compact, multi-stemmed habit and has woody stems and leathery, dark green leaves. Its bright red tubular, 4-petaled flowers are borne on cymes, primarily during the summer months. Blooms also appear periodically throughout the year. Dark purple to black, round drupes appear after the flowers fade. It is a member of the coffee family (Rubiaceae). The genus name Ixora is New Latin and is derived from the Hindu word Ishvara, and derived from the Sanskrit word Isvara, meaning God, Supreme Being, ruler or lord. The specific epithet coccinea is Latin and means scarlet.

The jungle geranium prefers full sun in moist, well-drained, organically rich soils with an acidic pH. It can tolerate small amounts of afternoon shade. It is winter-hardy in zones 9 to 11 and is intolerant of temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The shrub will die back in freezing temperatures and may regenerate in the spring. It may be grown in containers and brought indoors during the winter in colder climates; however, it may become susceptible to indoor plant problems such as scale, thrips, and mealybugs. Pruning may be required and is best done in late winter. Propagated by stem cuttings.

In a warm tropical climate, the jungle geranium may be used as foundation planting or a hedge. If grown indoors during the winter months as a container planting, it will require a bright sunny area.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Aphids, thrips, scale, bagworms, nematodes, and mealybugs may be seen. Susceptible to sooty mold and mushroom root rot.  Alkaline soils may cause chlorosis.