This heat-loving, evergreen shrub produces beautiful pink or white flowers in summer.
Oleander flowers emerge at the tips of stems for a flush of pink or white.
Also, be careful when pruning oleander because the milky sap can cause skin irritation.
Credit: Cynthia Haynes
Even dried plant parts remain toxic.
Where to Plant Oleander
Plant oleander in full sun for the best results.
It will grow in partial shade, but the shrub may become lanky.
Credit: Cynthia Haynes
It tolerates most soil types as long as they drain well.
Don’t plant it near areas where children and pets play.
The base of the main stem should be at soil level, not below.
Credit: Bill Holt
Fill the hole halfway with the amended soil and add water.
Wait a few minutes and fill the hole the rest of the way with soil.
Keep the leaves dry as you water the base of the plant again.
Credit: Chipper R. Hatter
Oleander Care Tips
Once established, oleander requires little maintenance.
Light
Oleander grows fast and can develop a lanky habit if not correctly maintained.
Soil and Water
Oleander is drought-tolerant and does well in poor soil.
Credit: Cynthia Haynes
If the roots stay wet for long, it is prone to rot, soexcellent drainage is essential.
Oleander grows best in an average humidity of about 40 percent.
Fertilizer
Oleanders in the landscape don’t need much fertilizer.
Credit: Cynthia Haynes
Oleanders planted in containers require more frequent fertilization.
Apply the same fertilizer as for landscape plants every four weeks during the growing season.
Limit the pruning to no more than one-third of the foliage.
Select a large container with good drainage and a small or medium-sized oleander.
Water the shrub and position it in a sunny spot for the warm months.
Cut the plant back by one-third to make it easier to manage.
They can be treated with a strong stream of water or an utility of insecticidal soap orneem oil.
The oleander caterpillar is more challenging to treat.
An infestation may require two or three treatments, preferably with a product containing Bacillus thuringiensis.
How to Propagate Oleander
Oleander can be propagated via stem cuttings or seed.
Cuttings:Oleander is easy to propagate withstem cuttings.
Old woody growth doesn’t root well.
Also, remove any flower heads.
Water the pot and cover it and the cutting with a clear plastic bag.
Mist the soil occasionally to keep it moist.
Germination takes a whileone to three months.
Remove the plastic wrap when the seeds sprout.
It grows 20 feet tall and 12 feet wide and tolerates light frosts better than most oleander varieties.
Zones 9-11
‘Mrs.
Lucille Hutchings’ Oleander
Nerium oleander’Mrs.
Lucille Hutchings' is a large variety with showy, peachy-pink double flowers.
It grows 20 feet tall and 10 feet wide.
Even when the shrub is damaged during cold weather, it regrows quickly.
It is safer not to use oleander in decorative arrangements.
North Carolina State University Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.
North Carolina State University Extension Gardener Toolbox.
