Neem
Azadirachta indica
Botanical family: Meliaceae
Azadirachta indica, native to the Indian subcontinent, is a tree long associated with traditional Ayurvedic medicine and crop protection. In Europe, neem oil is authorised in certain approved biocontrol products, but its use remains governed by plant-protection regulation.
Full sun
Warm, dry, tolerates poor and degraded soils
Low once established, very drought-resistant
Not hardy (tropical/subtropical, does not tolerate frost)
Frost-tender in your zone
Role in permaculture
A fast-growing tree traditionally planted in India and sub-Saharan Africa to restore degraded soils and provide shade in a hot, dry climate. Neem seed extracts (notably azadirachtin) have long been used in traditional Indian agriculture as a repellent against certain pest insects.
Companions
No companion planting is documented for this plant: no recommended neighbour, no neighbour to avoid.
Seasons & availability
A tropical tree from India that cannot be grown outdoors in our climates: leaves and oil are imported and available all year round. External use only, see the cautions.
Available: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
Guidance for the oceanic / temperate climate; it may vary with your region, altitude, exposure and growing method.
Sources
- Plants For A Future, « Azadirachta indica » (pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Azadirachta+indica)
- Missouri Botanical Garden, « Azadirachta indica » (plantfinder.mobot.org/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=282701)
Nutritional & medicinal properties
For educational purposes. Not a substitute for medical advice. Effects depend on the form, the dose and personal context.
Precautions & contraindications
Neem oil is not to be swallowed: toxic when taken orally, it is particularly dangerous in young children (serious poisonings have been reported). External use mainly; not advised during pregnancy. Traditional medicinal uses are no substitute for medical advice.
Species & varieties
The best-known species and varieties in France.
Species
Keep in mind
Azadirachtin, the active compound of neem, has been assessed in Europe as an insecticide and an acaricide. It is not selective: the seven-spot ladybird and the green lacewing, two beneficial insects, proved clearly more sensitive in laboratory studies, and it is very toxic to aquatic organisms; the risk to bees was assessed as low. In France, a plant-protection product may only be used with a marketing authorisation, for the uses it covers: a homemade neem oil has none. Sources: EFSA (2018), “Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance azadirachtin (Margosa extract)”, EFSA Journal 16(9):5234; ANSES, “Twenty questions about ANSES and the authorisation of plant protection products”.
A note on rigour: many companion pairings are gardening folklore; this note sums up what the sources say, where there are any.
Key takeaways
- • Prefers full sun exposure.
- • Ideal soil: warm, dry, tolerates poor and degraded soils.