Peeli Kaner (Cascabela thevetia)
Apocynaceae · Cascabela

Peeli Kaner / Yellow Oleander

Cascabela thevetia

Also known as Bestill Tree

Treeoutdoor
Habit
Tree
Found in India
Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka & more
Flowering
Throughout the year

Plant Details

Scientific name
Cascabela thevetia
Genus
Cascabela
Habit
Tree
Habitat
Planted
Habitat type
Cultivated
Native to
Tropical America
Distribution
Naturalized in tropics
Found in India
Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh
Flowering & fruiting
Throughout the year
Conservation status
Not Evaluated (NE)

Leaf characters

Arrangement
Alternate
Simple type leaf character
Type
Simple
Entire margin leaf character
Margin
Entire
Pinnate venation leaf character
Venation
Pinnate

Recorded for Peeli Kaner.

Flower & fruit characters

Flower symmetry
Radial
Inflorescence
Cyme

Typical of the Apocynaceae family — flowering plants only; individual species can differ.

Local Names

Hindi
Peeli kaner पीली कनेर,कनेर पीली kanera pili,पीला कनेर pila kaner
Nepali
पहेँलो करवीर
Bengali
কলকে, কলকে ফুল
Tamil
மஞ்சள் அரளி
Telugu
పచ్చ గన్నేరు
Kannada
ಕಾಡುಕಾಸಿಕಣಗಲು Kaadukaasi Kanagalu, ಕಾಡು ಕಣಿಗಿಲೆ
Malayalam
മഞ്ഞരളി
Marathi
बिट्टी / पिवळी कण्हेर
Assamese
কৰবী
Sinhala
කහ කනේරු

Peeli Kaner in India

Yellow oleander is a common hardy shrub with bright funnel flowers — Peeli kaner पीली कनेर (Hindi), மஞ்சள் அரளி (Tamil), పచ్చ గన్నేరు (Telugu), ಕಾಡುಕಾಸಿಕಣಗಲು Kaadukaasi Kanagalu (Kannada), മഞ്ഞരളി (Malayalam), बिट्टी / पिवळी कण्हेर (Marathi), the yellow-flowered kaner. Cascabela thevetia is planted across Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh in gardens, hedges and road medians.

Uses

It is grown purely as an ornamental and tough hedge that flowers through much of the year. Its overriding feature is danger: every part, and especially the seeds, is highly poisonous, so it must never be eaten and is best kept away from children.

How to Identify Peeli Kaner

An evergreen shrub or small tree with narrow, glossy, willow-like leaves arranged spirally, exuding milky sap when cut. The bright yellow (sometimes apricot) flowers are funnel-shaped with a twist, followed by an angular green fruit that turns black.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Yellow Oleander called in different Indian languages?
Peeli kaner पीली कनेर (Hindi); மஞ்சள் அரளி (Tamil); పచ్చ గన్నేరు (Telugu); ಕಾಡುಕಾಸಿಕಣಗಲು Kaadukaasi Kanagalu (Kannada); മഞ്ഞരളി (Malayalam); बिट्टी / पिवळी कण्हेर (Marathi); কলকে (Bengali).
Is yellow oleander poisonous?
Yes — all parts, especially the seeds, are highly toxic if eaten, so it should be handled with care and kept away from children despite being widely planted.
How is it different from common oleander?
Yellow oleander (Cascabela thevetia) has glossy willow-like leaves and yellow funnel flowers, while common oleander (Nerium) has flatter pink/white flowers and leaves in threes.
Illustration representing the Apocynaceae family
Botanical family

Apocynaceae

Dogbane family

Peeli Kaner belongs to the Apocynaceae family.

The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.

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Sources: GBIF — Cascabela thevetia (India distribution & vernacular names) (CC BY 4.0) · iNaturalist — Cascabela thevetia (regional names, India observations) (CC BY 4.0) · Wikipedia — Cascabela thevetia (background/comprehension only) (CC BY-SA 4.0)