Scientific name | Thevetia peruviana |
Common name | Thevetia |
Temperature requirement | 25-35 °C |
Humidity | 40-50% |
Light | During summer season keep the plants in shaded area and during winter season plants can withstand direct/indirect light. |
Watering | Water everyday &keep moist |
Pests | Mealy bug, red spider mite and aphids |
Pet friendliness | Toxic to pets and humans |
Maximum plant height | 150- 230cm |
Potting mix | Potting soil/red soil/manure/perlite |
Pot requirement | Good drainage&repot every 1-2 years |
Nutrition | Apply manure for first 15 days and npk for next 15 days |
Pruning & training | Remove dead & diseased leaves with sterile shears |
Common color & season | Yellow in summer |
Description | At first sight, this shrub is often mistaken for an oleander, which is its most popular relative. Indigenous to tropical america, this plant became known as yellow oleander(thevetia peruviana) to all frost free regions worldwide. In late spring until autumn, it grows funnel shaped, fragrant flowers in yellow, salmon or orange about 5 to 8 cm in size. Inflorescences attract butterflies and scattered flowering occurs the rest of the year. A variety called ‘alba’ features white flowers that contrast well with the lush green foliage. The leaves are lanceolate and often pendulous, with a glossy surface measuring about 15 cm in length. Odd shaped, bulky pods are green at first, turning red and black when ripe. They grow two nut like seeds which readily germinate. The other method of propagation is semi mature cuttings planted in late summer. For the best appearance, the soil should be welldrained and fertile with frequent irrigation. Nevertheless, yellow oleanders take full sun, heat, salinity and even drought. In cultivation, they remain shrubs some 2.3 Metres high, while they may grow as small trees to 6 metres in their homeland or under ideal conditions. In some regions, they are considered invasive. Very common and useful shrubs in gulf regions, they are easy to grow and always have a lush appearance. |