La Peruvian Thevetia, commonly known as yellow oleander, tevetia, monk's elbow, yellow laurel or yellow bell, is an evergreen shrub or small tree of notable ornamental value, native to tropical and subtropical regions of America, especially from Mexico to Peru. It belongs to the family apocynaceae, a group of similar species appreciated in gardening for their showy blooms and durability. For more information on plants with yellow flowers, you can visit yellow flowering plants.
Botanical and visual characteristics
- Doors: It can reach between 3 and 8 meters in height in its natural environment, although in cultivation it tends to be smaller. Its structure is short and branched, with grayish bark.
- LeavesThey are perennial, lanceolate or linear in shape, with a leathery appearance and a glossy, deep green surface. They grow to between 7 and 15 cm in length.
- Flores: : The flowering is one of its main attractions. The flowers are large, tubular, and bright yellow, although there are varieties with orange or white hues. They have a pleasant fragrance and a diameter of approximately 4-6 cm. They usually cluster in terminal or lateral inflorescences and can appear year-round in warm climates, with spring and summer being the peak flowering periods.
- Fruit and seeds: It produces drupe-shaped, fleshy, globose fruits, green in color that turns dark when ripe. They contain very toxic seeds, resembling small chestnuts.
Ornamental uses and precautions
- Gardening: It's ideal as a single plant, for forming hedges, in groups, or as a striking backdrop in sunny gardens. It can also be grown in large pots on patios, terraces, and as a houseplant provided it receives plenty of natural light.
- Toxicity: All parts of Thevetia peruviana are highly toxic Due to the presence of tevetin and cardiotonic cardenolides, similar to those found in oleander (Nerium oleander). Ingestion can cause very serious symptoms, including severe heart problems and death. Therefore, it is not recommended in gardens frequented by children or pets. To better understand the risks, you can consult the toxic beauty of oleander.
Contact with sap or latex may cause skin irritation., so it is recommended to wear gloves when handling the plant, especially when pruning.
Growing and care requirements
- Exhibition: It prefers full sun locations, although it tolerates semi-shade. Light is essential for a flowering abundant.
- Temperature: It requires warm climates, as it does not tolerate frost or intense cold. It can tolerate light frosts, but not prolonged frosts.
- Ground: It grows best in fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates poor soils and some salinity, but it is essential to avoid waterlogging. The addition of organic material and coarse sand to improve drainage and substrate structure.
- Irrigation: Moderate. Allow the substrate to dry between waterings and show good resistance to drought and intense heat. It doesn't require large amounts of water, making it ideal for coastal, dry, or low-maintenance gardens.
- Subscriber: An annual fertilization based on manure or compost will suffice, although during growing seasons a balanced fertilizer can be applied every 2-3 months.
- Pruning: It's advisable to perform training and maintenance pruning at the end of winter or just after the main flowering period. This helps maintain a compact appearance or give it a tree-like character if desired.
Thevetia peruviana is very resistant to common pests and diseases., making it an easy grow option for gardeners of all experience levels. To understand how to keep it healthy, you can consult saltpeter resistant plants.
Multiplication and propagation
- By seeds: This is the most common method, although the seeds should be soaked in hot water for a few hours before sowing to accelerate germination. Sowing is preferably done in spring. To germinate faster, consult how to grow poisonous plants.
- By cuttings: It can be propagated from semi-woody cuttings planted in sandy substrate, with constant ambient heat, which favors rooting.
Medicinal properties and health risks
Historically, some cultures have used extracts of Thevetia peruviana in traditional medicine, mainly due to the presence of alkaloids such as tevetine, which act as cardiotonics. However, its medicinal use is extremely limited. dangerous and should be avoided outside of strict medical supervision, as therapeutic and toxic doses are very close, and the risk of severe poisoning is high. To learn more about poisonous plants, see poisonous plants in Spain.
- Poisoning: Accidental ingestion may cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, and in extreme cases, death.
- Precautions: It is essential to keep the plant out of reach of children, pets and domestic animals.
Technical sheet and taxonomy
- Scientific name: Thevetia peruviana (synonyms: Cascabela thevetia, Cerbera peruviana)
- Family: apocynaceae
- Origin: Tropical and subtropical America
- Ports: Evergreen shrub or tree, up to 8 meters
- Flowering: All year round in warm climates
- Similar plants: Nerium oleander (pink oleander)
Due to its spectacular flowering and resistance, Thevetia peruviana is a versatile option for warm climate gardens, bringing color and exoticism for much of the year. However, handling them should always be done with due precautions to avoid accidental poisoning of people and pets.