This lovely shrub or small tree has glossy dark green leaves,
and fragrant saffron-yellow to orange or peach coloured flowers.
The long funnel-shaped flowers are in terminal clusters and
produce deep red fruits which form black seed pods and are not
edible. It makes an ideal container plant for a sunny deck or
patio. In USA Zones 8-10, these plants are used in a variety
of landscape applications including hedges, screens, foundation
plantings and borders.
Cascabela thevetia is an evergreen tropical shrub or small tree.
Its leaves are willow-like, linear-lanceolate, and glossy green
in color. They are covered in waxy coating to reduce water loss
(typical of oleanders). Its stem is green turning silver/gray as
it ages.[5] Flowers bloom from summer to fall. The long funnel-
shaped sometimes-fragrant yellow (less commonly apricot, sometimes
white) flowers are in few-flowered terminal clusters. Its fruit is
deep red-black in color encasing a large seed that bears some
resemblance to a 'Chinese lucky nut.
Germination
These seeds have already been thoroughly cleaned and cold-stored
for several months. They should be sown into a well-drained, sandy
compost at any time of the year, and covered thinly with sand or
grit and kept moist. Keep at between 15 and 20 degrees C. Germination
usually occurs within 4 to 6 weeks although some seeds may take much
longer.