I can still remember the happy memories in our big house 30 years ago. It was a happy big house made of native materials, a happy big home. 2 bedrooms with 2 living rooms, a terrace, 1 dining room, a dirty kitchen, a washroom, with another attached small stock room.

The yard fenced with bamboo and wood with variety of trimmed SANTAN FLOWERS (yellow, orange and red) at the front which seemed to be a second fence and gumamela (hibiscus) at side and back of the yard. We have white santan at the back and in front 2 more variety of red double petals.

Santan has been part of our daily lives for decades. Used as decoration, ornamental display, garlands during graduations and recognition days, and flower for the "Flores de Mayo and various events.

Santan in a way or another has been SANTA in the lives of my family, my home;)

The lowly Santan, or Ixora sp., is one of the oldest known flowering plants in the Philippines.  It is international knows as the Jungle Geranium, Flame of the Woods and Jungle Flame.  Its name was derived from an Indian deity.  The genus Ixora has roughly over 420 to 450 species and it is widespread in the Indian sub-continent, China, Indochina, the Malayan peninsula and the Philippines.  There are about 45 species found in the Philippines.

The Santan is a popular cultivated ornamental shrub. It flowers all year and requires little care.

It grows from a half meter to four meters in height. It can be grown as a hedge and sometimes as a bonsai.

There are now hundreds of colorful hybrids that are commonly cultivated.

Flower cluster comes in white, yellow, red, red orange, tangerine, pink, etc.

They have no fragrance but species like Ixora finlaysoniana or White Santa has fragrant flowers.

The plant grows in practically any type of soil, but will thrive best in rich sandy loam.

For best results, mix a potting medium composed of equal parts of sand and garden soil and compost.

The plants need to be watered regularly in order to stay active and healthy.

Small plants can be established in eight-inch clay pots, but often times, these plants are planted directly into the soil.

The Santan has some folkloric uses in most parts of the Philippines and other Asian countries.

The flowers are used in making colorful leis and are commonly planted as hedges and in container pots. Plants parts of Ixora like leaves, stems, roots and flowers are utilized for traditional medicines.

The flower decoction is used for treatment of hypertension, amenorrhea, and irregular menstruation.

The decoctions of leaves are also used for wounds and skin ulcers, while a poultice of fresh leaves and stems are used for sprains, eczema, boils and contusions.

The diluted tincture of roots is used for mouthwashes and gargles to cure sore throats.

Light

The Santan is grown under full sunlight, which induces its year-round flowering.

It is used in landscaping in open areas, exposed to bright light.

Plants placed in shaded areas will produce less flowers.

To maintain a healthy plant, fertilize the plant with fertilizer 14-14-14 every month.

Apply about one-half teaspoon of complete fertilizer per plant every month in order to induce healthy growth and produce more flowers.

For very sunny areas, water the plant once a day or once every two days.

Santan plants are very hardy and can tolerate slight drying.

Plants are easily attacked by several kinds of insects like ants, mealy bugs and aphids.

To control insect infestation, spray plant with insecticides like Malathion and Lannate.

Spraying a systematic insecticide would eradicate these sucking insects.

Regular pruning is also necessary to induce a bushy appearance.

Santan is commonly propagated through stem cutting, marcotting and layering.

For hedges and mass planting, pruning is done right after blossoms have withered to maintain height of 30 to 60 cm.

For breeding purposes, the Santan flower can be pollinated to produce fruits or berries which contain the seeds.

There is a trend towards producing newer variety of Santan.

The Santan is the ideal plant for low maintenance landscaping.

They can be planted along roadside or any public space as they don’t need to much attention.

They are very affordable.