Ixoras are one of the most popular and widely used landscape shrubs in the tropics and subtropics. They are attractive as a single specimens or in a grouping or hedge for maximum impact. It is especially nice as an anchor layer with lower growing bedding plants in front in a bright contrasting color. There are more than 400 species of ixora, and most are native to Asia and China. The number of these in wide landscape use is small, and are mostly made up of hybrid crosses.
Ixoras prefer a soil rich in organics and slightly acidic in ph. They will grow in other higher ph soils, but generally need iron supplementation through foliar feeding to hold their leaf color. The flowers produce a rich nectar that is attractive to butterflies.