Ixora coccinea aka Ixora

Ixora coccinea is an evergreen shrub in the coffee family. Common names include jungle geranium and flame of the woods. It comes from India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia. Gardeners grow it across the tropics, including southern Florida. Its dense branches form a rounded or upright bush. Growth is slow. Garden plants often reach 4–6 feet [1.2–1.8 metres] tall. One garden source gives a spread of 5 feet [1.5 metres]. Florida reports reach 10–15 feet [3–4.6 metres] tall and 10 feet [3 metres] wide.

Several woody stems may rise from the plant's base. New twigs are thin and reddish. The bark adds little to its garden appeal. Young leaves may look bronze before they turn dark green. Mature leaves feel firm and leathery, with a glossy surface. They have smooth edges and an oval to oblong shape. Sources give leaf lengths from 0.17–0.5 feet [0.05–0.15 metres]. The leaves stay green through the year without fall color.

Tube-shaped flowers grow in clusters at the branch tips. Red flowers have four petals in the main species description. Other species accounts also list orange, yellow, pink, and white. Summer brings the main flush in many gardens. Warm, ideal conditions can support flowers throughout the year. Birds, butterflies, and hummingbirds visit the plant. Round, fleshy fruits turn dark purple to black. They are small and less striking than the flowers.

Full sun gives the best flower display. Some shade during the hottest hours suits the plant too. It grows best in rich, moist, acidic soil with good drainage. It tolerates sand, loam, and clay, but handles salt poorly. Moderate drought tolerance does not replace its preference for moist soil. Give less water in winter. Sources place outdoor hardiness in USDA zones 9–11 or 10–11. Temperatures below 50°F can cause trouble. A light freeze may kill stems, though spring growth can return. In colder areas, containers need a bright indoor winter site.

Use this shrub for hedges, screens, borders, or a single accent. It also suits containers, greenhouses, and bonsai. It withstands hard pruning, but hedge clipping cuts the flower display. Alkaline soil can cause yellow leaves from chlorosis. Aphids, thrips, scale, mealybugs, bagworms, and nematodes may cause harm. Sooty mold and mushroom root rot can also occur. Fully ripe fruit is eaten raw; flowers serve as a condiment. Traditional remedies use its leaves, bark, and roots. These reports do not establish medical benefit. ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to cats, dogs, and horses. Useful Tropical Plants reports no known hazards.