Apocynaceae is a family of flowering plants consist of about 400 genera and about 4,555 species of trees, shrubs, woody vines, and herbs. Members of the family are distributed primarily in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Nearly all members of this family are poisonous, and many species are used medicinally because of the presence of cardiac glycosides and various alkaloids. A number are cultivated as ornamentals for their attractive flowers and foliage.

Garden ornamentals belonging to the family include periwinkle (Vinca), oleander  (Nerium), yellow oleander (Thevetia), frangipani (Plumeria), Natal plum (Carissa), milkweed (Asclepias), and crepe jasmine (Tabernaemontana).

Arrow poisons are obtained from many plants in Apocynaceae family, and the poisonous alkaloids of species belonging to the genera Strophanthus and Rauvolfia are used in medicines.