Evergreen tree up to 15 metres tall with a densely leafy crown. The opposite, pinnate leaves are dark green and slightly curved with a toothed margin. The white paniculate flowers are followed by yellow stone fruits which are oblong to round and about the size of an olive. They contain a single seed.
The seeds of the neem are used to extract neem oil. This vegetable oil smells of garlic and onions and has a bitter taste. One of its uses is as an insecticide, as it contains a substance – azadirachtin – which has a negative effect on the hormone balance of insect pests. The neem tree is also important in medicine.
We would also like to be able to use neem seeds for pressing oil, but our little trees are still too young.
India, Pakistan, Myanmar
Tropical garden staff member Wandee
The seeds of the neem are used to extract neem oil. This vegetable oil smells of garlic and onions and has a bitter taste. One of its uses is as an insecticide, as it contains a substance – azadirachtin – which has a negative effect on the hormone balance of insect pests. The neem tree is also important in medicine.
We would also like to be able to use neem seeds for pressing oil, but our little trees are still too young.