Ixora
Ixora coccinea · also called Jungle geranium, flame of the woods
Flowering
- Light
- Sunny
- Pot size
- Large pot (more than 15 litres)
- Care level
- Easy
- Year round or seasonal
- Kept year to year; in a pot, keep it above about 10 °C (50 °F)
- Pets
- ASPCA: non-toxic to cats and dogs
Light and position
Full sun, tolerating a little afternoon shade.
Size and pot
A shrub that NC State lists at 4 to 6 feet. Our pot band: large pot (more than 15 litres).
Watering
Keep the soil moist but well drained.
Potting mix and feeding
Acidic soil. NC State warns that alkaline soil causes yellowing (chlorosis).
Growing through the year
NC State says it does not tolerate temperatures below 50 °F (10 °C) and suggests pruning in late winter.
Winter outdoors
Cold limit in a pot: about 10 °C (50 °F). NC State says it is intolerant of temperatures below 50 °F.
| Your coldest winter nights | What to do |
|---|---|
| Coldest nights 15 °C or warmer | Can stay out through this winter |
| Coldest nights 10 to 15 °C | Move it to shelter before nights fall to 10 °C |
| Coldest nights 5 to 10 °C | Move it to shelter before nights fall to 10 °C |
| Coldest nights 0 to 5 °C | Move it to shelter before nights fall to 10 °C |
| Light frost: nights down to about −5 °C | Move it to shelter before nights fall to 10 °C |
| Hard frost: nights below −5 °C | Move it to shelter before nights fall to 10 °C |
A plant can stay out only when its limit is below the coldest night in your band; a limit equal to that night counts as needing shelter. A rare cold snap, wind or a wet pot can still damage plants. We convert °F to °C with NIST’s formula.
Watch for
Aphids, thrips, scale and mealybugs; sooty mould.
Pets and people
ASPCA lists Ixora coccinea as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses.
General gardening information, not professional advice. Plant toxicity details are a starting point, not veterinary or medical advice: if a pet or child may have eaten a plant, contact a veterinarian or doctor promptly.
Care level: NC State’s maintenance rating (Low). Pot band and summary wording are ours, based on the sources below.