The neem is an attractive small-landscape tree with numerous household uses.
The neem tree is native to India and Burma but extensively cultivated in areas like Africa, Asia and Australia. Today, it is found in urban and rural settings. The neem has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties and is often used as a natural pesticide. Hardy to USDA zone 10, neem grows best in warm, sunny locations.
The Plant
The neem tree can get up to 100 feet tall -- an unusual height in home cultivation. The plant has glossy, green, slightly serrated leaves that are just under 3 inches long and 1 inch wide. The tree blooms in the warm season, producing hanging white flowers that smell of honey. The tree thrives in sun but can tolerate partial shade. It can survive in temperatures from 35 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The neem tree will lose its leaves in colder ranges and can become severely damaged.
Cultivation and Use
Neem trees do well in almost any type of soil as long as it drains well. Any soil pH up to 8.5 is tolerable for the tree, and it thrives in acidic soils too. The tree requires an average amount of water but will be fine in brief periods of drought. The plant has few pests and is very resistant to disease. The trees are grown in plantations and used as windbreaks. They offer shade on city boulevards and in public spaces where temperatures are extremely warm.
Benefits
The neem tree's name means "reliever of sickness" in Sanskrit. Twigs are used as cavity-fighting toothbrushes, the leaves are used in homes to repel insects, and the juice from the tree soothes skin problems. All parts of the tree have been used by indigenous populations for years. The tree has been deemed anti-malarial, antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic and anti-inflammatory in alternative medicine.
Propagation
The neem tree is propagated from seed. The tree produces fruits, the kernel of which is pressed for the oil. The kernel can be soaked and planted in almost any potting medium. The seed needs to be fresh to germinate. Germination generally occurs in one week if the planted seed is kept in a location that is at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit and kept well-misted. Once the plants gain a couple of pairs of true leaves, they can be moved to larger pots or planted outdoors in favorable weather.
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