Manjal arali (Cascabela thevetia)

Manjal arali, pila kaner in Hindi, is yellow oleander, a common garden and roadside shrub with glossy, narrow leaves and yellow trumpet flowers. Every part of the plant contains cardiac glycosides that disturb the heartbeat. Eating its seeds is a frequent cause of poisoning in South India and Sri Lanka, both accidental and deliberate. It is a different plant from common oleander, Nerium oleander, which is also toxic.

Botanical name: Cascabela thevetia (L.) Lippold
Family: Apocynaceae
Tamil: Manjal arali
Hindi: Pila kaner
Sanskrit: Pītakaravīra
Parts used: None as food
Habit: Yellow-flowered garden shrub; every part is poisonous
Last updated: 2026-10-27

How to recognise Manjal arali

It is an evergreen shrub or small tree, usually two to five metres tall, with milky sap.

The leaves are narrow, linear, glossy and bright green, crowded along the branches.

The flowers are funnel-shaped, yellow, peach or white, and lightly fragrant.

The fruit is a fleshy, triangular drupe that turns from green to black, holding one or two hard seeds.

Common oleander has long, leathery, lance-shaped leaves and pink, red or white flowers in clusters.

Traditional use of Manjal arali

Garden

It is planted in gardens, temples and road medians for its long flowering season.

Indian garden practice

Ritual

The flowers are offered in temples in South India.

South Indian practice

Modern notes on Manjal arali

The glycosides, including thevetin, act on the heart like the drug digoxin and can cause fatal heart rhythm problems.

Hospitals in Sri Lanka and South India see many cases of yellow oleander seed poisoning each year.

Treatment may include activated charcoal and anti-digoxin antibodies, which are expensive and not always available.

Manjal arali safety

Never eat any part of this plant. Anyone who has eaten a seed or leaf needs hospital care immediately. Do not burn the wood or use the twigs as skewers, and keep children and animals away from fallen fruit.

Ecology and sourcing

It is native to Mexico and Central America and now grows throughout the tropics.

Bees and butterflies visit its flowers.

Its seeds can sprout in waste ground near gardens.

Related plants

Also in Apocynaceae

Questions about Manjal arali

Is yellow oleander poisonous?

Yes. Every part is toxic to the heart.

Is Manjal arali the same as common oleander?

No. That is Nerium oleander, also toxic.

What should I do if someone eats a seed?

Go to a hospital immediately.

Can I grow Manjal arali at home?

Only where children and pets cannot reach it.

Where is Manjal arali from?

Mexico and Central America.

Sources

Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.