Jungle geranium   

Jungle geranium's description

It is a low-growing tropical shrub notable for its bright coloured flowers which are composed of many small blooms massed together into dense, flat-topped flower heads. It is one of the few Ixora species that make good indoor plants along with several kinds developed from it.

It takes up to five years for it to grow to its maximum height of about 1.2m (4 feet). It is a much-branching shrub, with leathery, shiny, pointed oblong leaves up to 10cm (4 inch) long and 5cm (2 inch) wide arranged in pairs or whorls of three or more in 1-2cm (0.4-0.8 inch) long stalks. Leaf colour is dark green, often bronzish when the leaves are new. Tubular flowers, which are up to 5cm (2 inch) long and fiery red, open at the month into four petals arranged in the form of a cross about a centimetre (0.4 inch) wide. The entire flower head has a diameter of 8-12cm (3-5 inch). Normal flowering period is summer, but occasional flowers also appear in the autumn.

Various kind of Ixora which have Ixora coccinea as a parent produce differently coloured blooms, chiefly in shade of orange, yellow and pink, as well as red.

Jungle geranium's facts

Did You Know?

• Ixora is said to be native to Asia and whose name derives from an Indian deity.
• The leaves of the ixora plant are antiseptic in nature, and are used to treat wounds in some countries in Asia.

Jungle geranium's Relationship with Humans

These plants are used as hedges for foundation planting, screens as a background plant, in greenhouses, in containers, bonsai, as edging, and in various landscape designs.

The flowers, leaves, and roots are used in the traditional Indian medicine system of Ayurveda, to treat rheumatism, wounds, diarrhea, and fever, and the fruits are eaten as food.