What is Nerium oleander?

Form: large shrub, can be trained to single or multistemmed tree


Seasonality: evergreen


Size: large variation with cultivars; heights from 3 to 20ft, spreads from 3-12ft


Leaves: simple, linear, 3-12in long, whorled around stem, glossy dark green on top and lighter underneath with prominent mid-rib


Flowers: terminal clusters, may be yellow, white, pink or red; may be single or double; bloom in spring and throughout summer


Fruit: 3-5in long pods, green ripening to brown, splits to release airborne seed


Stems/Trunks: gray, extremely tough, can be trained or pruned as desired


Range/Origin: Mediterranean and Asia


Hardiness: varies with variety, standard types to low teens, dwarf varieties more tender; damage seen on dwarfs in high teens; all types recover quickly from frost damage





Nerium oleander


trained as a tree


LANDSCAPE VALUE:





hedge


screen, windbreak


specimen plant (when trained as tree)


medians and roadsides


CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS:


Exposure: full sun to part shade, takes reflected heat


Water: drought tolerant; supplement during hot season,


Soil: tolerant, good drainage


Propagation: vegetative cuttings


Maintenance: low to moderate; pruning to control size or shape


all perts of the plant are poisionous including the smoke if burnt!

What is Nerium oleander?
This fast growing evergreen shrub can reach up to 20 ft (6.1 m) tall but is usually seen trimmed at 6-10 ft (1.8-3.1 m). It forms a rounded mound to about 10 ft (3.1 m) wide. It is a tough, versatile plant with showy summertime flowers in white, red, pink, salmon and light yellow. Leathery, lance shaped leaves range from about 4-10 in (10.2-25.4 cm) long, depending on variety and are a bright green. Oleanders have a tendency to become leggy - overgrown individuals should be pruned as needed to maintain a nice shape. A popular variety is 'Petit Salmon' which is a dwarf that grows to only 4 ft (1.2 m).
Reply:Nerium oleander is a poisonous evergreen shrub of the family Apocyanaceae,in the Mediterranean region with leathery lanceolate(shaped like a spearhead,narrow,tapering from near the base) leaves %26amp; fragrant pink or white flowers,frequently grown for ornamental purpose.It is also called 'Rosebay' or 'South sea rose'(in W.Indies).