Neem
Azadirachta indica
The village pharmacy: shade, bitter pest-repellent leaves, oil for the sprayer.
Hardiness: zones 10 to 12
Light: full sun
Size: about 50 ft tall, 40 ft wide
From: India
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: screens and hedges, wildlife, traditional use, Ayurvedic tradition.
Native to: South & Southeast Asian tropics, Sahara & Arabian deserts. Hardy in zones 10 to 12.
The story
Neem is the village pharmacy of India, shading every square and temple; its twigs are the toothbrush of a billion people, its leaves protect stored grain and are eaten bitter at New Year, and its oil is the organic gardener's insecticide. Ayurveda and Unani medicine have used every part for 4,000 years.
Planting
Full sun, any drained soil, heat, and no frost; it survives drought and poor ground. Plant seed fresh or a seedling; fast, to 50 feet.
Growing
Water young trees, then nothing. Prune to shape. Leave the fallen leaves as mulch.
Harvest and use
Pick leaves any time for pest sprays (soak and strain) and medicine; seeds in summer for pressing neem oil. Chew a twig for the teeth. Bitter leaves are eaten in tiny amounts at Ugadi.
What to watch for
Frost and wet feet; nothing eats it.
Safety
Neem oil is poisonous if swallowed and has caused severe illness and deaths in young children. Keep it well out of reach and never give it by mouth.
Medicinal uses here are shared as history, not advice. Kitchen amounts are fine for most people, but teas, tinctures and supplements can interact with medicines and aren't safe for everyone, especially in pregnancy, while breastfeeding, for children, or with liver or kidney problems. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before taking any plant as medicine.
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More helper plants for soil, wildlife and biomass
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home