We found this gorgeous plant, reminding us of a hydrangea, at a nursery in Florence, SC; hubby loved the coral/reddish orange colour and really wanted it. My SC garden book shows it's a tropical, but nursery staffer did a song and dance about how the climate is changing, and things that only grew in tropical climates now can be grown elsewhere. Hubby argued "the nursery wouldn't sell a plant that can't be grown in it's own zone!!". Against my better judgement, we bought it (well, DH is always complaining that I nix all his choices!!). Now every posting I find on DG showing photos of ixora are from zones 10 and up!!! Do we stand a chance with this lovely plant? It's hot here, but it's NOT India!!!!
Ixora coccinea in zone 8, mid-SC?
I'd be surprised if it makes it in zone 8, I live in 9b and when I had one I always kept it protected somewhere for the winter, honestly I wouldn't even take a chance with it here if it has to stay outside for the winter. Also, nurseries sell stuff all the time that won't grow in your zone, so don't use that as your guideline. And while the nursery staffer might be right that climates are shifting, it hasn't shifted enough to turn zone 8a into zone 10 yet...maybe 8b at best!
Hi Thea, Manning is certainly a 8b and a Ixora would be iffy there I think. I am a 9a here and one of my neighbors has had one outside for several years so I tried one this past year. It stopped blooming in January and has just now formed buds again but at least it did hold it's leaves throughout the winter. But, we have had such warm winters lately; perhaps is this pattern holds,,,,,,,,.
Thank you Ardesia and ecrane, I'll hope for the best but when I look at all the lovely pictures of this plant on Dave's Garden, and then check for the zone they're in, I see they're all in India and Hawaii and tropical FL, so I'm bracing myself for my plant's swift demise! I'll feel so bad, because it's just the prettiest little thing!! The colour is such a nice creamy coral! But the Southern Living Garden Book mentions it's "subject to a host of insects and diseases; difficult to keep healthy without constant vigilance"; maybe if it hangs around long enough to attract all the insects and diseases, I'll be happy to see it croak! This is the LAST time I give in to my husband's nursery choices!!!!!
Don't fret about insects; I will have had mine for a year this coming summer and I have never had so much as an aphid on it (knock of wood).
They are finding so many plants formerly known as tropicals are a lot hardier than expected. Just read Tony Avant's Plant Delights catalog; it is amazing what they can grow in the Raleigh area these days. He does not carry Ixora however so that makes it questionable in my eyes. But, if it lives here and you are not that far north of me.........
Did you get the Ixora at the Pee Dee Flower Festival?
No Ardesia, I got it at Forest Lake Nursery on Alligator Road in Florence. We did go to the big Farmer's Market/Flower Festival in Florence a few weeks ago, I think that was called the PeeDee Festival as well? What fun that was, huge and overwhelming!!! Did you get to it? I'm just about to go out and plant my Ixora; say a little prayer to the plant gods for me please!!! I've always been so interested in India, I got quite a kick out of it when I found it grows there!
No, not this year. I always go to the Pee Dee Flower festival as it is the best in the state, each region has a spring festival, but I was just too busy this time.
My Ixora is in a pot on my back deck. Mine is a yellow one and it is still pretty small but my neighbor's is a pretty good size.
This is mine today, it is only about 14" (it was in a 4" pot when I got it). The yellow leaves are the old ones and there are plenty of new ones growing. I pinched it back a week or so ago. The picture is a little washed out because the sun is pretty bright right now.
I just succumbed to temptation today because HD had Ixora on sale for 99 cents. I got 3. I was searching to see what was my best option for them not being annuals and found this thread.
I'm wondering if anyone thinks they would make it over the winter in an unheated garage or an unheated greenhouse in my zone (8a).
Thea, did you bring yours in for winter or leave them out?
If they were left out, and they died back, anyone think they would be root hardy?
I've stuck them in the ground in their pots for the time being.
Deb
This message was edited Sep 1, 2008 4:22 PM
i think it could survive for yall in a protected area in your yard with some additional protection. there are a few that are living outside near moss creek here that get no attention at all but that is near the marsh where it is always warmer
Deb, I LOVED my Ixora and felt so bad when it didn't come back after the winter! The flowers were beautiful and eyecatching, and lasted for so long in the garden!! I gave it winter protection (pinestraw and branches) but still no growth come spring. I saw it too around here, this spring and was tempted to buy it and didn't, but I may next spring. I missed having it this summer. I bought mine at a nursery and it was expensive, but I saw it at either Lowe's or HD for a lot less this year.
Thea: Thanks. If it didn't make it for you with protection, then I won't risk it. I wonder if it would survive in my unheated GH. I hate bringing plants in the house where it's so dry in winter. I do it - but they never seem very happy.
I was willing though, to give it a try. The price was just too good. :)
Deb
But don't give up, maybe it will make it thru! If not, buy another in the spring and just treat it as an annual. It's worth it!!!
Deb, I brought two back from FL last summer and kept them in pots, outdoors, all winter and they never lost their leaves. The problem is mine are only setting their first buds now. I am going to put them in the ground this fall and see how they do next year. They are supposed to be acid lovers and I have been using azalea fertilizer on them.
I have had this plant in containers many summers. In an average winter, the temp gets down into the low twenties a few times. Ixoras outdoors begin to stress at ca. 40 degrees. A freeze kills them. Always. I don't have a place for a greenhouse. I've tried overwintering them by taking them in and out of the garage depending on the temps, but they struggle. I'm afraid they are better treated as annuals unless you are in the tropics. More and more tropical plants are being introduced into the trade. That gives us more choices, but we need to understand what we are taking on. I've had better luck with bush allamandas. (over the winter) Is esperanza (tecoma or tacoma stans) {Yellow Bells} sold in your area? [If I go to check on the spelling tecoma, my message will vanish- I've learned that the hard way.] Esperanzas are much easier to keep over in a garage if the temps don't get below 30 degrees or so inside. They will drop their leaves. Water them once a month or so and when the temps warm up to 65 or so at night in late spring cut the branches back to the ground and put it back outside to stay.
DP: I've never sesen tacoma stans. - I'll have to look it up. I did receive an alamanda as a gift this year. Hadn't decided what to do with it over the winter either. As for the ixora, I'll do my best to overwinter it indoors. The were on the "we'll kill it if you don't buy it" rack, so at least they'll have a nice summer/fall.