Are Ixora Plants Hardy in South Florida?

Ixora is an ornamental shrub.

Ixora (Ixora spp.) is an evergreen, long-blooming shrub that's useful for hedges, specimens and containers. Ixora grows best in full sun and can grow 3 to 8 feet tall, depending on the cultivar.

Florida's Climate

Flowers can be red, pink, orange, yellow or white.

Southern Florida, with minimum winter temperatures averaging 30 to 35 degrees, is in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zone 10. Summer are hot and humid.

Ixora

Ixora is a hardy woody shrub in zones 10 and 11, where it will bloom year-round. It's grown as an annual in cooler areas of the country.

Ixora in Florida

Ixora is hardy in southern Florida and can be grown outside all year. In other areas of Florida, as in most of the rest of the United States, it's best grown as an annual or in a container that can be sheltered during cold weather.

Growing Tip

Ixora is an acid-loving plant, like camellias and azaleas. Growing Ixora in high-pH soil will stress the plant and reduce its winter hardiness. Use a pH meter to test the soil and amend as necessary to keep the pH around 5.0.

References

• U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zone Map: South-East U.S.
• University of Florida IFAS Extension: Ixora for South Florida