Family: Rubiaceae
Scientific name: Ixora coccinea
Common name: Jungle geranium
Origin: India and Sri Lanka

The jungle geranium is a small shrub from India and Sri Lanka that can also bloom easily in a pot. The blooms consist of umbels with many red flowers that are naturally pollinated by butterflies. It is the national flower of Suriname, although the origin of the plant is in Asia. The species is found in open places in forests or along the forest edge and therefore prefers a sunny position. In the wild, the shrub can grow up to 3 or 4 meters high, but in a pot it stays a lot smaller, up to 1.5 meters. The shiny, leathery leaves look elegant and that makes this a nice plant to keep as a tub or houseplant. Make sure the soil is well-drained and watered regularly.

Sowing directions: Sow short-lived seeds directly into sowing and cutting soil. Keep the soil constantly lightly moist and let the seeds germinate at 22-30°C.  

Sowing time: Whole year
Difficulty: Easy
Minimum temperature: 12 degrees Celsius