thevetia

( thev - VET - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of evergreen shrubs and trees, sometimes called Cascabela,  is fast-growing, and needs full sun and regular water. Leaves are deep green and glossy, and showy flowers bloom in clusters at branch ends. These plants thrive in heat, and will no do well in cooler temperatures; they do not take frost conditions well. Thevetia is native to Mexico, Central America, South America, and Cuba. Take care when planting these tropical beauties in your garden, as all parts are poisonous if ingested.

Thevetia Species and Varietals

The genus Thevetia is in the plant family Apocynaceae. There are three species included in the genus, though there used to be many more (they were transferred in some classification systems to the related genus Cascabela). The genus was first formally described in 1758. Thevetia growing zones vary depending on the species. For more information, consult the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Thevetia neriifolia (Thevetia peruviana) (Yellow Oleander, Lucky Nut)
This species does best in zones 13, 21-24, H1 and H2 and is native to tropical America. Can reach 20-30 feet tall as a tree in frost-free areas, or an 8 foot tall shrub in other conditions. Flowers are yellow to apricot in color and are fragrant, blooming early summer through fall. Blooms are followed by red fruits that age to black. Needs good drainage and protection from winds. Mound sand around the base of the stem in cooler areas to protect roots. Will die back in freezing temperatures but rebound quickly; new growth will begin in the same year.

​Thevetia thevetioides (Giant Thevetia)
This species grows well in zones 12, 13, 22-24 and H2. It has an open growth, reaching 12 feet tall and wide, and has dark green leaves that are corrugated. Flowers form in large clusters and are yellow, blooming from late spring through fall. Desert heat will wilt flowers in summertime. Great as a patio tree if the fruits are cleaned up regularly.

Caring for and pruning Thevetia shrubs

Take care when working with plant parts of this species, as all parts are poisonous. Make sure to dispose of plant waste properly, so that pets and children do not have access.

These shrubs thrive in full sun exposure, and should receive direct sunlight for most of the day. This amount of sunlight is essential for good flowering. Well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH is desirable, and sandy or loamy soils are best for the growth of these plants. Mulch around the base of the plant after installation to increase soil moisture retention and to suppress weed growth. These plants do not like their roots being in standing water. They are moderately drought tolerant at maturity, requiring supplemental waterings only during the warmest months of the year and while flowering is occurring. Water deeply when soil is dry to the touch; allow soil to dry out between waterings. Use a balances, slow-release fertilizer in springtime to support the season's growth and flowering. Prune to shape and to remove dead, diseased, damaged, or crossing branches. Deadhead spent flower heads to encourage more blooms to pop.

Propagation

​Thevetia can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Thevetia by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots. 
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Thevetia by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a sealable plastic bag, sphagnum or peat moss, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows. 
  2. Harvest your seeds. The seed pods are large and left behind where flowers once were on the plant. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
  3. Place seeds in a moistened sphagnum moss or peat moss bed inside of a sealable plastic bag. Place the bag in your refrigerator and leave it there for three months (90 days). After this treatment, remove them and set them out to dry.
  4. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  5. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Thevetia seeds.

Problems and Pests

Thevetia shrubs are susceptible to the following pests and diseases:
  • Mealybugs
  • Scale
  • Aphids
  • Leaf Spot
  • Caterpillars
For information on these issues, including how to solve them, see the following links:
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Gallery

Thevetia shrubs provide lush foliage to warm, humid climates.
These shrubs can be trained into small trees, if desired.
These shrubs produce yellow, trumpet shaped flowers.

Videos

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Resources

Thevetia peruviana Seeds
Wikipedia: Thevetia
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 627, Thevetia
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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