Shrub
Oleander
Nerium oleander
An evergreen Mediterranean shrub with long summer flowering, built for heat and full sun but sensitive to frost. All parts are highly toxic if eaten, the sap can irritate skin and smoke from burning cut material is harmful.
- Size
- 2–5 m high · 1.5–3 m wideVaries by cultivar
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Winter
- Frost sensitive
- Seasonal form
- Evergreen
- Maintenance
- Moderate
Before planting
- All parts are highly toxic if eaten; place the plant where children and pets cannot readily ingest leaves, flowers or cut material.
- Never burn oleander prunings because the smoke is harmful, and wear gloves when pruning because the sap can irritate skin.
- Outside frost-free mild climates, use a container or other strategy that allows bright, protected winter conditions.
Why choose it
- Long summer flowering and evergreen foliage give a strong Mediterranean effect in hot, sunny sites.
- Established plants tolerate heat, drought, salt and urban conditions well when drainage is adequate.
Care
- Water moderately during active growth and more carefully in containers; reduce watering during cool winter rest.
- Prune after flowering or as needed to control size, wearing gloves and collecting all cut material safely.
- Move container plants to bright frost-free quarters before hard frost and return them outdoors after frost risk passes.
Good to know
- Toxicity remains high in fresh and dry plant material, so prunings must be handled deliberately and never used as fuel.