Scarlet jungleflame
Ixora coccinea, family Rubiaceae
A dense evergreen shrub with year-round scarlet flower clusters
Scarlet jungleflame is an evergreen shrub with glossy leaves and tight clusters of bright red tubular flowers that bloom nearly all year. Native to parts of South Asia, it is widely planted in warm regions for hedges, gardens, and containers, and holds cultural and medicinal roles in India.
- National flower of Suriname
- Blooms nearly all year with scarlet clusters
- Used in Ayurveda for dysentery and ulcers
- Tolerates hard pruning for formal hedges
- Over 500 species in the Ixora genus, but this is the main garden type
What does Scarlet jungleflame look like?
This shrub grows 4 to 6 feet tall, sometimes reaching 12 feet, with a rounded shape wider than it is high. Its leaves are glossy, leathery, and oblong, arranged in opposite pairs or whorls. Dense, rounded clusters of small tubular scarlet flowers appear almost continuously throughout the year.
Where does Scarlet jungleflame come from?
First described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, Ixora coccinea originates from southern India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Though over 500 species exist in the Ixora genus, this one is the most commonly cultivated and has spread to tropical and subtropical gardens worldwide.
When and how Scarlet jungleflame blooms
It thrives in warm climates and can be grown outdoors as a hedge, specimen plant, or in mass plantings. In cooler areas, it is kept in greenhouses or as a potted houseplant needing bright light. The shrub tolerates heavy pruning but shows its best form when left un-sheared.
How Scarlet jungleflame is used
In India, parts of the plant, flowers, leaves, roots, and stems, are used in Ayurveda and folk medicine to treat dysentery, ulcers, and gonorrhea. It also serves as Suriname’s national flower and is popular in landscaping across South Florida and other warm regions.
Kinds of Scarlet jungleflame
Many cultivars exist, varying in flower colour and size. Dwarf types stay under 3 feet tall, while hybrids like Super King produce larger flower clusters. New varieties in recent decades have renewed interest in this plant.
What Scarlet jungleflame means
Ixora coccinea is the national flower of Suriname. In Indian traditional medicine, a mixture of leaf juice and fruit is used for specific health conditions. Its long blooming season and dense form make it a favoured ornamental shrub in tropical landscapes.
Traditions that use it
Where to see Scarlet jungleflame
Questions people ask about Scarlet jungleflame
Where does Ixora coccinea come from?
It is native to southern India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, though now grown in many warm regions including South Florida and Micronesia.
What is it used for?
It is used ornamentally in gardens and as Suriname’s national flower. In Indian traditional medicine, its parts treat dysentery, ulcers, and gonorrhea.
Does it flower all year?
Yes, it produces dense clusters of scarlet flowers almost continuously throughout the year in suitable climates.
Are there different kinds?
Yes, cultivars vary in flower colour, pink, orange, yellow, and size, including dwarf forms under 3 feet and hybrids with larger blooms.
Can it be grown in pots?
Yes, it grows well in containers as a patio or poolside plant and can be kept indoors in cooler climates with bright light.
Good reading and sources
- USDA Plants DatabaseUS Department of Agriculture, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database
- Ixora coccinea on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Ixora coccinea", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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