We tried neem here once before, planted three about five years back and only one made it, so this new one’s got some pressure on it.
The Basics
Neem, Azadirachta indica, is a fast-growing tree in the mahogany family, Meliaceae.
Origin and Habitat
Native to the Indian subcontinent, now grown throughout the tropics for its many practical uses.
What It Looks Like
A fast-growing evergreen with small white flowers and olive-like fruit containing seeds that are the real prize.
Uses and Flavor
Not a food tree for us. Got ours from Yuri, whose neem trees make unusually big seeds, and you press an oil out of those seeds that works as a natural insecticide. We use it a lot in the garden, diluted with water and sprayed on — the bugs hate the taste so much they just stop eating.
Growing It Here
We tried neem here once before, planting three about five years back, and only one made it. This new one has some pressure on it to do better. Separately, we’ve also got two older, well-established neem trees elsewhere on the property, magnificent looking things, and one of them is now over 30 feet tall, honestly getting big enough that it worries me a little.
Pests and Diseases to Watch For
No issues to report on this new one yet, though our track record with the species here has been mixed.
Kenta’s Take
A tree that quite literally helps us grow everything else, by keeping the bugs off, deserves another shot even after a rough first attempt, big scary older siblings and all.