Ixora Maui

Dwarf ixora and maui ixora, the smaller varieties of this lushly flowering shrub, have taken South Florida by storm. Gorgeous flowers most of the year, easy care, compact size what's not to like? Often planted in groups or rows for maximum color, ixoras work well with informal gardens, tropical beds, or more formal and manicured landscape designs.

Add top soil or organic peat humus to the hole when you plant. An addition of composted cow manure to the mix is beneficial as well. Trim to shape as needed. Avoid pruning the dwarf shrub too hard, since it will take a long time to grow out of the pruning. Maui can be cut back in spring (late March or early April) to promote fuller, bushier plants.

Clustered blooms that attract butterflies come in a variety of colors, with the texture and shape of a fat, coconut-covered cookie. Plant These plants bloom heavily during warm months, and then off and on through cooler weather. The dwarf variety has small leaves like box-wood and blossoms cover almost the entire plant. Maui has larger leaves, a more free-form shrub shape, and is decorated with eye-catching flowers. Plant Specs: These evergreen plants need full to partial sun to produce the most flowers. The dwarf red ixora is the hardier of this smallest variety. The dwarf red ixora is the hardier of this smallest variety other colors such as pink, white and orange are more cold sensitive.