This updates my earlier post on Ixora with a new photograph from Kew Garden of the variety Peter Rapsey. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

I liked the look of the Ixora ‘Super King’ (below) although I am unlikely to be able to grow a flowering specimen with my limited heat. That photo was taken at Kew Garden in March 2011.

What is Ixora

• Ixora are tropical evergreen trees and shrubs. There are said to be around 500 species.
• Ixora can flower in red, orange and white with 4 petals but are arranged in a profuse ball shape to make a fine display
• Other names for Ixora coccinea include Flame of the Woods, Needle flower, Jungle Flame, Jungle Geranium.
• Red ixora flowers are used in Hindu worship as well as in Indian folk medicine.
• More Photos of Ixora from Google
• The variety photographed above was Ixora Super King but there are 3 species with this name Ixora casei ‘Super King’, Ixora duffii ‘Super King’ and Ixora macrothyrsa ‘Super King’ or ‘Malay’ so I am still in a quandary.
• Ixoras do best in full sun in a moist, organic, well drained acid soil .

Uses of Ixora

• Ixora in the wild are often used as hedging and can endure some salt spray on the wind.
• Ixora are available to grow as bonsai and flower when quite short.
• As sun lovers Ixora need plenty of light and protection all year round so they only make exotic conservatory plants in the UK.