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Botanical Garden

Nerium oleander - Oleander

Nerium oleander
Nerium oleander
Nerium oleander

Family Apocynaceae

Description:

Two species of Nerium are native to Europe and Asia. This species, oleander, is cultivated around the world for its showy flowers and long season of bloom. Flowers are produced during the warm season. Flower colors range from white to shades of yellow and pink to nearly red.

This plant is known to be highly toxic if ingested. It is best planted where it can be viewed at a distance.

Location:

Plants can be seen north of the Aquatic Center.

Size:

Typical plants are shrubs to twelve feet tall or more. At least one cultivar was selected for its compact growth to about six feet tall.

Care Instructions:

Light: full sun

Water: well-drained soil, very drought tolerant

Soil: well-drained soil, no other special requirements

This is an easy plant to grow in sunny, dry sites. It is subject to infestation by oleander moth larvae that can strip a plant of its leaves and make it unsightly.