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Rubiaceae
Jungle Geranium
Ixora coccinea
Flame of the forest and sacred devotion.
- Family
- Rubiaceae
- Genus
- Ixora
- Native to
- India, Sri Lanka
- Bloom season
- Year-Round In Tropics, Summer In Subtropics
- Type
- evergreen shrub
- Height
- 1–3 m
- Sunlight
- full sun to part shade
- Soil
- acidic, moist, well-drained
- Water
- medium to high
- Hardiness
- 10–12
- Lifespan
- long-lived perennial shrub
Did you know
- Jungle geranium is not a geranium at all — it is in the coffee family (Rubiaceae), unrelated to true geraniums.
- In India, it is called 'rangan' and is one of the most commonly offered flowers at Hindu temples.
- The dense, dome-shaped flower clusters can contain over 60 individual tiny tubular florets.
- Ixora requires acidic soil (pH below 6.5); in alkaline conditions the leaves turn yellow from iron chlorosis.
- In Ayurvedic medicine, various parts of the plant are used to treat dysentery, skin ailments, and fever.
Color meanings
Red
divine passion
Orange
joyful worship
Yellow
bright blessings
Pink
tender prayer
White
pure devotion