Victoria County Master Gardener Association

2015 May 31

GARDENING:

Ixora blooms add color to landscape and around pool

May 31, 2015

By Helen Parks/Victoria County Master Gardener

Edited by Charla Borchers Leon/Victoria County Master Gardener

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY HENRY HARTMAN, CREATIVE IMAGES

Often planted in groups or rows for maximum color, ixoras work well with informal gardens, tropical beds and also more formal and manicured landscape designs. They also do very well poolside in the landscape or in containers although Ixoras must have protection from cold weather conditions. This 'Maui Red' multi-colored bloom is in a manicured garden on a recent garden tour in Victoria.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY HENRY HARTMAN, CREATIVE IMAGES

The Maui Ixora comes in gold and red and is generally a more moderate grower that can be kept 2 to 3 feet tall. It has larger leaves than dwarf varieties and more of a free-form shape. It can be usedin specific focal point locations in the landscape and in containers.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY HENRY HARTMAN, CREATIVE IMAGES

Ixora coccinea shrub can reach 4 to 6 feet and has vibrant-colored blooms and leathery shiny green leaves. Clustered blooms like these with the texture and shape of a fat, coconut-covered cookie attract butterflies. This 'Jungle Flame' fire red bloom is commonly found in area landscapes.

LANDSCAPE USES FOR MAUI/DWARF VARIETIES

• Low hedge

• Accent in a mixed bed/container

• Under low windows

• Along a walk or drive

• Front of border planting (dwarf)

• Surrounding a palm or tree that lets sunlight through its canopy

• Lining a deck, porch, or patio

• In a small bed by the entry

Source: South Florida Plant Guide

IXORA INFORMATION

• Tropical plant that does well in sun or partial shade.

• Needs well-drained, acidic soil.

• Comes in regular and dwarf varieties.

• Requires fertilizer twice annually for continuous blooms.

• Florets clump in mass throughout plant and last 4-6 weeks.

• Blooms in reds, yellows, orange, white and pinks.

• Does well in formal/informal landscapes; in containers.

• Thrives around pools.

• Requires winter protection in most locations.

VCMGA Teacher Grant Application

• WHO: Victoria/surrounding county teachers

• WHAT:$100-$500 grant for fall/spring campus agriculture project

• WHERE: Applications available online: vcmg.org/projects

Want to Be a Victoria County Master Gardener?

Go to: vcmga.org

Or look for further information in this column.

(EDIT FOR 2021- We will not have a fall class for 2021, but will start a new class January 2022. Call 361-575-4581 and put your name on a list to receive more information or keep checking back here)

The Gardeners' Dirt is written by members of the Victoria County Master Gardener Association, an educational outreach of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension - Victoria County. Mail your questions in care of the Advocate, P.O. Box 1518, Victoria, TX 77901; or vcmga@vicad.com, or comment on this column at VictoriaAdvocate.com

Are you looking for plants to add color and pizazz to your Texas landscape? One plant native to tropic and sub-tropic climates, such as Hawaii and Southeast Asia, is the ixora.

Survives in heat, humidity

A popular choice in Florida, with resilience to heat and humidity, is now finding a place in our own Gulf Coast landscapes. These plants were commonly found in patio pots and around swimming pools to add color during hot summer months but are finding new places to dwell.

The Ixora coccinea shrub, with leathery green shiny leaves 4 to 6 inches long, hosts a clump of tiny blooms that comprise the flowery bush. This evergreen shrub can reach 4 to 6 feet tall and can bloom throughout the year, according to M.H. Dyer, a University of Oregon state Master Gardener and master naturalist.

Vibrant blooms

With more than 400 varieties, these plants come in colors to complement any flower garden. A small number, however, have sprung onto our southern landscapes with surely more to come.

Shape

Blooms consist of four star-shaped petals per floret and are clumped in masses that can last four to six weeks on each stem. The flowers will grow throughout the bush.

Colors

Ixora blooms resemble the hydrangea flower, but the most common varieties come in brighter colors. The "Jungle Flame," a fire red color, is most commonly found in landscapes, but flowers range from red (Maui Red), yellow (Maui Yellow), orange, white and pinks.

Source for nectaring

The sweet fragrant flowers attract numerous winged birds, butterflies and bees. Jacqueline Chin from John and Jacqs Garden website provides a plethora of information and photos on many tropical plants. She states that the ixora plant is an excellent source for bees, butterflies, and other plant suckers for its sweet nectar. The plant can be trained into a flowering ornamental shrub but should not be planted too close to concrete foundations to avoid disease to leaves.

Used as cut flowers

Cut flower clusters are lovely when placed in a bowl or vase of water and last quite a while. Bloom masses appear in May and last well into fall, depending on sunlight and temperature the plant receives.

Growing tips

Ixoras are related to gardenias so soil PH is a factor when growing them. Gardenias thrive in a soil PH between 5.0 and 6.0. Therefore, a well-drained acidic soil is best for ixoras.

In the Landscape

Ixoras perform best in direct sunlight but can tolerate partial shade. Watering only the root system when the soil is dry will keep blooms and plant healthy. Use an azalea fertilizer a couple of times a year to maintain the soil acidity necessary for greater flower masses. Coffee grounds add acidity when recycled around plant root soil.

Ixoras need protection in cold weather in the landscape. Pruning is best done in the spring and not cut too drastically because that could shock the plant and cause problems.

In containers

According to "Gardening Know How," Bonnie L. Grant writes that ixora shrubs require minimal maintenance and can also be grown in containers but will need re-potting every two to three years. Freezing temperature will harm the plants, so cover or bring indoors in winter.

Trimming the shrubs keeps them well-groomed, and they can be propagated with stem cuttings. They can also be started from seed with little care. Mulching two to three inches will also provide the correct temperature and moisture level to ensure continued growth.

Dwarf variety

The dwarf ixora is a compact shrub with a height of 8 to 10 inches. It is a miniature version of this plant, according to Marylee Gowans in an online article of SF Gate Home Guides.

Tendencies for disease

While often an alternative size for the gardener, Gowans reports a number of diseases associated with this plant. Anthracnose is a fungal infection causing red or black spots on the leaves or stems associated with wet or humid weather. Avoid watering the leaves and remove any infected areas to alleviate the problem.

Leaf spot will not harm the plant but is sometimes mistaken as a bacterial or insect infestation. Sooty mold is a black soot-like fungus that appears when pests such as aphids secrete a sticky substance. This will not harm the plant. A soap spray will clean the fungus and kill tiny pests.

Using ixora plants in the landscape will add color and character to any yard. Their low maintenance and beauty will inspire any novice or seasoned gardener to find new colors and varieties.

Web Hosting by Turbify

brenson@vcmga.org

ph: 361-935-1556
nancyk@vcmga.org