Overview
Carmine Orange Ixora (Ixora coccinea 'Carmine Orange') is a non-native shrub suited to Tampa landscapes.
Mature Size and Habit
Expect about 3 to 6 feet tall and wide, developing a dense evergreen framework with glossy leaves and rounded clusters of carmine-orange tubular flowers. Growth is moderate.
Best Landscape Uses
Use it for a colorful low hedge, foundation mass, pool-area accent, or tropical border. Allow the natural rounded form to develop because frequent tight shearing removes flower buds and exposes bare interior stems.
Sunlight
Full sun produces the heaviest bloom and compact growth. Partial sun is acceptable, especially with intense afternoon heat, but deep shade reduces flowering and density.
Soil, Drainage, and Irrigation
Ixora needs acidic, well-drained soil and steady moisture during establishment. High-pH soil commonly causes yellow leaves with green veins in Tampa; avoid limestone fill, shell, fresh concrete runoff, and overliming.
Best Planting Season for Tampa and Central Florida
October through early spring offers easy establishment. Summer planting requires reliable drainage and frequent root-ball checks.
Pruning and Maintenance
Prune selectively after a bloom cycle and avoid cutting every new flush. Monitor scale, aphids, sooty mold, root-knot nematodes, and micronutrient deficiency, and keep mulch several inches from the stems.
Wildlife Value
Tubular flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds and also support visiting pollinators. Preserve the display by limiting pesticide use during bloom and retaining some untrimmed flower clusters.
Cold and Heat Sensitivity
This tropical shrub is best in warm, protected Tampa sites and may suffer below freezing. Plants exposed to north wind, low spots, or cold irrigation water recover more slowly than specimens near warm masonry or dense plantings.
Safety, Roots, and Placement Warnings
Ixora has no major thorn or aggressive-root concern and is generally suitable near walks when kept within its mature spread. Ornamental plant parts should not be consumed without reliable species and pesticide verification.
Invasive Concerns
Ixora coccinea is non-native but is widely used as a managed ornamental and is not treated as a major invasive landscape plant in Florida. Remove volunteers and keep clippings out of preserves and waterways.
Helpful Resources
See UF/IFAS Ixora for Florida care guidance.