Chinese ixora

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; provide afternoon shade in very hot, exposed gardens. Too much shade reduces flowering.

Water

Keep the root zone evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water less in cool weather, allowing the surface to dry slightly between waterings.

Soil

Humus-rich, well-drained, acidic soil, ideally pH 5.0-6.5. Alkaline soil and lime-rich irrigation water can cause yellow leaves.

Height

3-6 ft (0.9-1.8 m)

Spread

3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m)

Flowers

Clusters of red, orange, pink or yellow tubular flowers, mainly from spring through autumn; flowering can continue intermittently all year in frost-free tropical conditions.

Foliage

Evergreen. Opposite pairs of glossy, leathery, dark green leaves, usually oval to obovate with short stalks.

Growth

Slow to moderate; faster in consistently warm, humid conditions.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Hard

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   2.2 ft (0.67 m)

3. After 2 years

   2.8 ft (0.84 m)

4. After 3 years

   3 ft (1 m)

5. After 5 years

   4 ft (1.4 m)

   full size

About 5 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Moderate

• Water deeply when the soil surface starts to dry; never leave pots standing in water.
• Use an ericaceous potting mix for containers and rainwater where tap water is hard.
• Feed lightly with a fertilizer for acid-loving flowering shrubs during active growth, following the label.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Move container plants under cover before cold nights arrive; overwinter in bright light, preferably above 50°F (10°C).

Pruning. Lightly shorten shoots after a main flush of flowers to keep the shrub compact, and remove dead or damaged wood as needed. Avoid frequent shearing, which removes developing flower buds.

Spring

Repot container plants if root-bound, using fresh acidic potting mix.

Spring

Begin light feeding as new growth starts, and renew mulch around outdoor plants.

Late spring

Move overwintered pots outside only when nights remain reliably above 50°F (10°C); introduce stronger sun gradually.

Summer

Check soil moisture frequently and inspect shoot tips and leaf undersides for pests.

Summer

Trim lightly after a main flowering flush if shaping is needed.

Autumn

Bring pots under cover before chilly nights and reduce feeding as growth slows.

Winter

Keep protected plants bright and warm, watering less often without letting the root ball dry out completely.

• Plant in small groups beside patios or entrances in frost-free gardens for warm-coloured flowers and evergreen structure.
• Use as an informal low hedge, allowing enough space to avoid repeated clipping of flower buds.
• Grow in containers on sheltered terraces where alkaline garden soil would otherwise be unsuitable.
• Combine with gardenias, camellias and ferns in acidic soil for contrasting flowers and foliage.

Garden styles it suits: Tropical, Modern tropical, Luxury resort, Modern courtyard, Florida subtropical and Balinese.

Plant it with: Gardenia, Camellia, Azalea, Bird's nest fern and Bromeliads.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar for butterflies and other insects. Their long tubes favour visitors able to reach nectar deep inside.

• Yellow leaves with green veins: often caused by unavailable iron or manganese in alkaline soil. Check soil pH, switch to rainwater where practical, and use a suitable chelated micronutrient treatment if needed.
• Scale insects and mealybugs: inspect stems and leaf undersides, remove small colonies by hand, and treat persistent infestations with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap according to the label.
• Root rot: prevent prolonged saturation by improving drainage and using pots with open drainage holes; remove badly affected plants.
• Poor flowering or bud loss: provide more light, steady moisture and warmth, and avoid heavy nitrogen feeding or frequent shearing.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses, but species-specific safety information is limited. No part should be treated as edible; discourage pets and children from eating the leaves, flowers or fruit.

• Jungle geranium (Ixora coccinea)

  Usually has nearly stalkless leaves with rounded or slightly heart-shaped bases and more pointed tips. Chinese ixora generally has short but visible leaf stalks and blunter, often obovate leaves;

• Egyptian starcluster (Pentas lanceolata)

  Its flowers usually have five pointed lobes rather than ixora's four, and its leaves are softer and noticeably hairy rather than glossy and leathery.

The botanical epithet chinensis means 'of China', which is also reflected in the common name.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe stem cuttings during warm weather. Root them in a free-draining medium with high humidity, bright indirect light and gentle bottom heat; rooting can be slow.

Accepted botanical name

Ixora chinensis

Native range

Cambodia, China Southeast, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Measured

Average height 200 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.