Ixora coccinea L.

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘The glossy green foliage and large heads of bright scarlet flowers, which well-managed specimens of this noble plant produce, form an ample recompense for any attention that may be bestowed on its culture.  The beauty of leaves alone render the plant agreeable at all seasons; but when covered with its strikingly showy blossoms, which last during three or four months of the year, it is a perfect gem’.  [Gard. Chron. 1852]. 

‘It will appear strange, we presume, to most of our readers, when they are informed, that the Ixora coccinea, a plant at present in few hands, and which a short time since was sold in some of our nurseries for five guineas, should have been known in this country a hundred years ago; and yet Mr. Aiton, who has so laudably exerted himself, in ascertaining the precise period, when most of the exotics cultivated in the royal garden at Kew first made their appearance in Great-Britain, informs us on very respectable authority, that this plant was introduced by Mr. Bentick in 1690.  There is every reason to suppose, that this splendid exotic did not long survive its introduction; on inquiry, we learn that it was re-introduced about fifteen years ago, by the late Dr. John Fothergill, a name, to medicine and botany ever dear, in whose rich and magnificent collection at Upton it was first known to flower.’  [BM t.169/1791].  LBC no.386/1819.

History at Camden Park

Listed in the 1850 and 1857 catalogues [T.582/1850].  Obtained from the London Horticultural Society.  Included among desiderata in a letter to John Lindley dated 15th February 1848, Macarthur’s copy endorsed ‘arrived’ [MP A2933-1, p.157].  Possibly also obtained from Kew Gardens, again marked ‘arrived’ on Macarthur’s copy of the desiderata sent to Kew [MP A2933-1, p.165].  It was also requested of Loddiges’ nursery on 13th February, 1848 [MP A2933-1, p.172].

Notes

Ixora coccinea is today generally considered to be a form of Ixora chinensis Lam.  To assist with distinguishing Macarthur’s plants they are considered to be separate species here.  Ixora chinensis Lam has a large number of synonyms, some of which are listed below.  This reflects the considerable natural variation in the species and the concomitant difficulty in classifying the many imported plants experienced by 18th and early 19th century botanists.

Some synonyms of Ixora chinensis Lam.

Bemsetia paniculata Raf., Gaertnera hongkongensis Seem., Ixora blanda Ker Gawl., Ixora coccinea Curtis, Ixora colei Gentil, Ixora crocata Lindl., Ixora dixiana Gentil, Ixora dubia Schult., Ixora flammea Salisb., Ixora incarnata Roxb. Ex Sm., Ixora kroneana (Miq.) Bremek., Ixora pallida Reinw. Ex Miq., Ixora rosea Sims, Ixora speciosa Willd., Ixora stricta Roxb., Ixora stricta var. mekongensis Pierre Ex Pit., Pavetta arborea Blanco, Pavetta chinensis (Lam.) Roem. & Schult., Pavetta kroneana Miq., Pavetta stricta (Roxb.) Blume, Sykesia hongkongensis (Seem.) Kuntze, Tsiangia hongkongensis (Seem.) But, H. H. Hsue & P. T. Li.  [zipcodezoo.com/Plants/I/Ixora_chinensis].

See also Ixora coccinea L.