Thevetia peruviana

Plant Characteristics

Habit		tree
Height:	⇕	15 ft"ft" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 15.
Width:	⇔	8 ft"ft" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 8.
Lifespan:	⌛	perennial
Poisonous:	☠	yes

Cultivation

Exposure:	☼	sun
Features:	✓	flowers, foliage
USDA Zones:		10 to 12
Flower features:	❀	orange, yellow

Scientific Names

Apocynaceae >

Thevetia >

peruviana >

Thevetia peruviana is a plant probably native to Mexico and Central America and a close relative to Nerium oleander. It is an evergreen tropical shrub or small tree that bears yellow or orange-yellow, trumpet like flowers and its fruit is deep red/black in color encasing a large seed that bears some resemblance to a Chinese "lucky nut."

It contains a milky sap which is extremely poisonous, as are all parts of the plants, especially the seeds. Its leaves are long, lance shaped and green in colour. Leaves are covered in waxy coating to reduce water loss (typical of oleanders). Its stem is green turning silver/gray as it ages. Can be grown as shrub or tree outside in warmer climates but in frost prone areas best brought back inside for winter. Will tolerate most kinds of soil as long as they are well drained and is situated in full sun in a sheltered area. Useful as a landscaping plant in warmer climates as it does not need much maintenance.

Cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed in spring (clean seed coat in a glass containing 10% bleach 90% warm water for 2-3min; after wash seed and soak in warm water for 24h). Can also propagate from cuttings in spring-early summer with hardwood cuttings. For both use a seed/cutting compost that contains perlite.

Gallery

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External links

• w:Thevetia peruviana. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
• Thevetia peruviana QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)