Consulta Plantas

Care of the shrub Nerium oleander or Oleander

The genus Nerium, family Apocynaceae, includes a single species of shrub native to the Mediterranean basin: Nerium oleander.

Common names: Oleander, Kaner, Rosebay, Rose Bay, Rose-bay, Rose Laurel. Important: it's a very poisonous plant if ingested; it can cause serious poisoning and even death.

They are erect and highly branched evergreen shrubs that reach 6 meters (19.68 feet) in height. The leaves are leathery, lanceolate and dark green; there are variegated varieties. The scented and showy flowers appear in terminal groups and can be white, cream, pink, yellow or red. They bloom during the summer.

They are used to form shrub groups and screens, as isolated specimens and in large pots.

Nerium oleander needs full sun exposure and a warm-temperate climate like the Mediterranean. They resist frosts down to -7 ºC (19.4 ºF). In cold climates it's better to grow them in pots to protect them.

Water frequently in spring and summer so that the substrate never dries out completely. Reduce watering in autumn and winter; they resist a few days of drought.

They grow in any type of soil but they appreciate a substrate that contains organic matter.

During the summer, fertilize with mineral fertilizer every 15 days.

Lightly prune the tips of the branches in autumn and the suckers that it can produce at the base.

They are plants quite resistant to pests and diseases but the flowers are sensitive to aphids attack.

They are propagated by cuttings in summer and by air layering in first or summer.

Images of the shrub Nerium oleander or Oleander