🌺 Neem Tree

Azadirachta indica

exotics tree Meliaceae

☀️ Sun

full sun

💧 Water

low (extremely drought-tolerant)

🗺️ Zones

9-12

🧪 Soil pH

6.0-7.5

🪴 Soil Type

sandy, loamy, tolerates poor soils

🚿 Drainage

well-drained

📏 Spacing

20-30 feet

📐 Height

50-65 feet (can reach 100 feet)

⏱️ Maturity

1095-1825 days (3-5 years to first significant seed production)

Key:🤝 Grows well together❌ Keep apart☀️ Sun needs💧 Water🗺️ Hardiness zone

🤝 Companions (9)

🤝 Avocado

Neem leaf mulch and neem cake suppress soil-borne pathogens and nematodes that affect avocado; provides organic pest management in orchards.

🤝 Banana

Neem leaf mulch suppresses banana nematodes and soil-borne pathogens; neem cake is traditionally used as organic fertilizer for bananas

🤝 Citrus Tree (General)

Neem-based products are widely used in organic citrus production; neem trees near citrus orchards provide a source of pest-management materials.

🤝 Coconut Palm

Neem and coconut are traditional companions in Indian agroforestry; neem cake is a preferred organic fertilizer for coconut palms.

🤝 Guava

Neem leaf extracts help manage guava pests and diseases; neem trees can be integrated into guava orchard boundaries.

🤝 Mango

Neem trees can be planted as windbreaks around mango orchards; neem cake fertilizer benefits mango tree health and fruit quality.

🤝 Moringa

Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators

🤝 Papaya

Neem leaf mulch helps suppress nematodes that attack papaya roots; neem cake is used as organic fertilizer for papaya.

🤝 Pigeon Pea

Pigeon pea fixes nitrogen to support neem growth; neem's natural pest repellency protects pigeon pea from pod borers and other pests

⚠️ Keep Apart (3)

⚠️ Bean (Bush)

Fresh neem mulch incorporated into soil may temporarily inhibit nitrogen-fixing bacteria that beans depend on

⚠️ Cucumber

High concentrations of neem compounds in soil can inhibit seed germination and seedling growth in cucurbits

⚠️ Tomato

Neem leaf litter and root exudates can mildly suppress tomato growth; close proximity may reduce yields

📝 Growing Notes

Neem is a fast-growing evergreen tree in the mahogany family that thrives in tropical and subtropical regions. It can survive where few other trees can , tolerating extreme heat (up to 120°F), drought, and poor soils. Neem's deep taproot makes it valuable for soil stabilization and desert reclamation. The tree is the source of neem oil, one of the most widely used botanical pesticides , azadirachtin disrupts insect feeding, growth, and reproduction without killing beneficial insects. However, its potent biochemistry means leaf litter and root exudates can affect nearby plants , it has mild allelopathic properties. Neem trees produce fragrant white flowers that are an important bee forage source.

🛒 Buy Seeds & Plants

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Johnny's Selected Seeds Botanical Interests True Leaf Market Burpee Territorial Seed Company

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