Ixora
Ixora coccinea
Also called Flame of the woods, Jungle geranium and Jungle flame
Houseplant · FloweringIt wants acid soil and soft water and turns yellow between the veins the moment it does not get them — this is the houseplant most often killed by a hard tap. Rainwater and ericaceous compost from day one.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Very hard
- Water
- Every 4 daysKeep it moist — water at the first hint of dryness — don't wait for a dry pot.
- Light
- Bright, with some direct sun
- Feed
- Every 21 days
- Humidity
- High
- Hardiness
- Tropical — indoors, warm RHS H1A, to 15°C
- Size
- 1 m tall · 0.8 m across
- Lifecycle
- Shrub
- Origin
- Southern India and Sri Lanka
Is it safe for pets and people?
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
ASPCA lists Ixora coccinea by exact binomial, as "Flame of the Woods" and "Iron Tree", as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses, with Ixora javanica listed beside it.
Checked against ASPCA on 2026-09-22.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- The newest leaves come through yellow with green veins while the old ones stay dark. It is hard water or alkaline compost — this is the commonest thing to go wrong with this plant and the fix is rainwater and ericaceous compost, not feed.Lime-induced chlorosis · disorder
- A head of tight buds that browns and falls without opening, usually within a week of the plant being moved. It resents being turned or shifted while in bud.Bud drop · disorder