Flame of the Woods is a tropical evergreen shrub that earns its fiery common name through year-round clusters of brilliant red flowers that seem to ignite the landscape. Native to the Caroline Islands in Micronesia, this species (Ixora casei) grows 6 to 9 feet tall and spreads 4 to 7 feet wide, thriving in USDA zones 10 through 12. The plant's opposite leaves are sharp-pointed and bright green, creating a lush backdrop for flowers that appear continuously throughout the year. Beyond its stunning blooms, it produces showy fruit and attracts birds and butterflies, making it both a visual and ecological asset to warm-climate gardens.
Full Sun
Moderate
10-12
108in H x 84in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Tubular, bright red flowers arrive in 8-inch-wide clusters year-round, even in tropical heat where many shrubs exhaust themselves with seasonal flowering. The combination of glossy foliage, prolific blooming, and minimal pest pressure makes this a low-maintenance workhorse that thrives on neglect once established. Its attraction to butterflies and birds adds living movement to the garden, while its compact, mounded form works beautifully as a hedge or specimen shrub without demanding constant attention.
Flame of the Woods excels as a flowering hedge or specimen shrub in tropical and warm subtropical gardens. Its year-round blooms and compact growth habit make it suited to foundation plantings and mixed borders where continuous color and pollinator activity are desired.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
No care instructions available yet for this variety.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Flame of the Woods originates from the Caroline Islands in Micronesia, where it evolved in tropical island conditions. This species has since spread across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, becoming particularly valued in ornamental horticulture for its reliable, abundant flowering and resilience in warm climates.”