Quick facts
| Arabic name | الحرمل |
|---|---|
| English name | Harmal (Rhazya) |
| Scientific name | Rhazya stricta |
| Family | Dogbane family (Apocynaceae) |
| Plant type | Evergreen shrub |
| Height | Usually 50 to 100 cm |
| Water use | Low |
Planting and harvest calendar
Best time to plant
It grows by itself and is not planted
Harvest
A poisonous plant
Times are general for the Saudi climate and may shift a few weeks by region: cooler in the highlands and the north, warmer on the coasts and in the south.
Description
Dense upright stems, shiny narrow leaves, small white flowers, and thin paired pods.
Where it grows
Common in valleys and plains of Riyadh, Al-Qassim, Hail, Madinah, Makkah and Najran.
Soil
Sandy and gravel soil.
Water and irrigation
Needs no watering.
Climate and light
Hot with full sun.
Propagation
From seeds.
Benefits and uses
- Stays green in the desert all year
- Was used in old folk medicine
Drawbacks
- Poisonous and bitter
- Its spread is a sign of damaged grazing land
- Crowds out useful grazing plants
Important notes
In northern Saudi Arabia, the name Harmal is also used for another plant, Peganum harmala.
Sources and references
The information was collected and checked from these scientific sources:
- Plants of the World Online (POWO) - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Rhazya stricta
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF): Rhazya stricta
- Wikipedia: Rhazya stricta
- Chaudhary, S. A. (1999-2001). Flora of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Ministry of Agriculture and Water, Riyadh.
- National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC)
- ASPCA - Toxic and non-toxic plants list
- Photo source: Wikimedia Commons (free license)