Question
I planted 3 Ixora plants in Sept. 2010.  They were beautiful for my Master Gardner Educational tour in Oct.  I see that they are listed as a perennial.  I live in Coastal S.Carolina (Hilton Head Island).  The plants are now bare stems, will they come back this year or should I wait and see how they respond? We are considered sub-tropic.  Thanks for your answer.  Nancy

Answer
Hello Nancy,

Ixora is a wonderful plant, and how nice that you have a trio. It is definitely a perennial in zones 10 and 11. I know that South Carolina is in zones 7a to 8b.  Is Hilton Head warmer? Ixora is often grown as an annual because it cannot handle the cold.

So, this raises another question.  Was your ixora grown indoors or out? It normally blooms all year, so I am concerned that you may have exposed to conditions too cold for its survival. On the other hand, they sometimes die to the ground in the cold, only to spring back to life the following May. I suggest that you give them more time, and see if they spring back to life when the weather warms.

Is this helpful? Please let me know if I have provided the information that you need.  If not please feel to write again.

Donna