Ixora - "flame Of The Jungle"

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

This unpretentious, brightly flowering plant adorns the tropical and semi-tropical part of the land of our planet, requiring little maintenance. Its bushes stretch along highways in a friendly strip, frame garden paths or dilute the green thickets of the jungle with their bright flowering. Ixora feels great in a flower pot, and therefore is suitable for decorating any room in areas with cold winters

Blossom of Ixora

The main decoration of an evergreen plant is its large corymbose inflorescences. They consist of numerous four-petal (I once came across a five-petal) small flowers, located on a peduncle on short petioles. From a tubular-funnel-shaped flower corolla, from three to five stamens and a two-celled ovary peep out. The tubules of flower corollas of different lengths, and therefore the inflorescence shield, with abundant flowering, turns into a picturesque flower hemisphere. Inflorescence life lasts from four to six weeks. Flowering continues almost all year round.

You walk along the road, steeply rising to the heavens, along the sides of which the variegated greenery of the tropical jungle stretches along the sides, and suddenly the bright red Ixora inflorescence "blazes" among the greenery. Therefore, the locals gave the plant a name - "Flame of the Jungle". Looking at the following photo, it's hard to disagree with this name:

However, flower petals are not always bright red, but can be pink or yellow in different shades, as in the following photo:

Or different shades of orange. Moreover, on one inflorescence, the color of the flowers can be different, as this photo demonstrates:

Evergreen Glossy Ixora Leaves

Actually, the Latin name "Ixora" hides not one plant, but a whole genus of plants, numbering more than five hundred species. Hence, the different color of the flower petals, and the different shape of the leaves of the evergreen shrub. At the same time, the leaves also have the same features: the upper side of the leaf plate is dark green, and the lower one is lighter; Like many tropical plants, Ixora's leaves are tough and glossy on the top. I just want to make oilcloth from leaves for an uncovered table on the veranda.

Although the solid, oval leaves of Ixora are quite simple, they can not be denied in picturesqueness. They owe their picturesqueness to the shiny surface of the leaves and lateral veins that form patterns on this surface.

Living conditions suitable for a tropical plant

The best place for the abundant flowering of Ixora is an area open to the sun's rays. The plant prefers moderate or slightly acidic soils. On alkaline soils, Ixora develops the chlorosis disease, which reduces the activity of photosynthesis and leads to a violation of the formation of chlorophyll in the leaves, with all the ensuing consequences. The soil should be evenly moist with good drainage.

Ixore's noble haircut to the face

Ixora easily tolerates a haircut, forming an excellent low, picturesque hedge in addition to the rustic fence:

Shrub propagation

Propagate Ixora by cuttings stems, or by sowing seeds. The seeds are hidden in black berries, which are very similar to the Cherry cherry berries, not only in appearance, but also in internal content. Inside the berry there is the same bone, only it is surrounded not by pleasant bird cherry juice, but by a powdery mixture, to the taste somewhat reminiscent of the taste of Bird cherry. I decided to taste it. The fruits are quite edible.

Plant care

Ixora is a rather unpretentious plant that requires a minimum of gardener's attention, and therefore is popular when creating public parks and gardens. In the spring, it is advisable to cut the plants to the required size and shape. Fertilize the soil and cover with a layer of mulch.

Fungal diseases are minimized by stopping watering. Watering is carried out at the root, trying not to hurt the foliage of the plant.

The plant can be visited by spider mites or aphids, but not very annoyingly, creating trouble, but not posing a threat to the life of the shrub.

When growing Ixora in flower pots, a plant transplant is required every two to three years.

Healing abilities

The roots, stem, leaves and flowers of Ixora are used for the treatment of various diseases by Indian traditional medicine, as well as by traditional healers of the countries of Southeast Asia.

Note: All photos were taken in Thailand.