Thevetia peruviana (Yellow Oleander)
Posted: July 8th, 2013, 11:02 am
| Botanical Name | Thevetia peruviana |
| Family | Apocynaceae |
| Genus | Thevetia |
| Specie | peruviana |
| Local Name in Urdu | چائنہ کنیر |
| Common Name | Yellow Oleander |
| Life Cycle | Tropicals and Tender Perennials |
| Cultivar Name | |
| Fragrant or Not | no |
| Category(Bush/Vine/Tree) | small tree |
| Height | 10-15 ft. |
| Spacing | 6-8 ft. |
| Flowering Months | summer to fall |
| Flower Color | Coral/Apricot Bright Yellow Cream/Tan |
| Growing Areas | hot areas of pakistan |
| Frost Tender | yes |
| Exposure | full sun |
| Soil pH | tolerent |
| Propagation | From woody stem cuttings From seed |
| Uses | ornamental and medicinal plant |
| Other Details | Thevetia is a plant known to central and southern Mexico and Central America. It is a close relative of Nerium oleander, giving it one common name as Yellow Oleander, and is also called lucky nut in the West Indies. Thevetia peruviana is an evergreen tropical shrub or small tree. Its leaves are willow-like, linear-lanceolate, and glossy green in colour. They are covered in waxy coating to reduce water loss (typical of oleanders). Its stem is green turning silver/gray as it ages.Flowers bloom from summer to fall. The long funnel-shaped sometimes-fragrant yellow (less commonly apricot, sometimes white) flowers are in few-flowered terminal clusters.[1] Its fruit is deep red—black in color encasing a large seed that bears some resemblance to a 'Chinese lucky nut.Thevetia peruviana contains a milky sap containing a compound called thevetin that is used as a heart stimulant but in its natural form is extremely poisonous, as are all parts of the plants, especially the seeds. It tolerates most soils and is drought tolerant.DANGER. “Accidental poisonings occur throughout the tropics, particularly in children. Adults have died after consuming oleander leaves in herbal teas. However, deliberate ingestion of yellow oleander seeds has recently become a popular method of self harm in northern Sri Lanka. There are thousands of cases each year, with a case fatality rate of at least 10%. Around 40% require specialised management and are transferred from secondary hospitals across the north to the Institute of Cardiology in Colombo” |
