Neem Tree – Azadirachta indica

Plant family: Meliaceae

Plant origin: North East India and Burma.

Fruit description: Neem fruit is not edible. It is a small smooth oval yellow berry, which looks like an olive, about 2cm long. Inside are 2 or 3 hard brown seeds.

Flowers: The flowers are small, white and fragrant. They occur in sprays with hundreds of flowers on each spray. Male and bisexual flowers occur on the same tree.

Growing conditions: The Neem tree grows fast up to 8 metres in height. It can be grown well in a pot, which will keep its height to 2 metres. It is an attractive evergreen tree, with ferny leaves that provide good shade. It prefers well drained deep soil but is very hardy and can grow in most soils. It is very drought resistant. It grows best in tropical or subtropical climates and grows well in an arid climate. It tolerates heat very well. It is moderately frost tolerant.

Uses: Neem trees are used for their leaves and seeds. Neem oil is extracted from the fruit and seeds, and is an excellent natural organic insecticide. Neem products are also used in cosmetics, such as shampoo, soap toothpastes and creams. The twigs can be chewed to clean the teeth.

Medicinal uses: Neem extracts from all parts of the tree have traditionally been used in Ayurvedic preparations in India, for many medicinal purposes, including contraception, antifungal, and antibacterial uses.

Pollination requirements: Self-Pollinating.

Harvest time Autumn

Plant relatives

Special features:

Grown by method: Seed Grown Pot size: 100mm

Plant growing Height and Width for pots or in the ground planting: Grows to 2 metres high by 1.5 metres wide if Planted in a Pot. Grows 8 metres high by 4 metres wide if Planted in the Ground.

Shipping plant pot or planter bag size: 100mm