Oleander is highly toxic to people and pets.
Do not plant oleander flowers around areas where children and pets may play.
Wear protective clothing and gloves when planting, pinching, pruning, or propagating oleander.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Planting Oleander
Plant oleander in cooler weather, such as in the spring or fall.
Always wear protective clothing and gloves when planting oleander to avoid direct contact.
Add compost to loosen the soil.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Place dirt back into the hole, and gently step on the soil to remove air pockets.
Give each plant adequate space, from 4 to 12 feet between plants.
They are fast-growing, with a thick multi-stem, making them perfect for a living screen or hedge.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
An oleander plant can become a tree or a bush.
Support the plant with a bamboo stake.
Light
Oleander prefersfull sun.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
It will also tolerate partial shade, but its foliage won’t be as dense.
It is also tolerant of heat, drought, wind, and coastal conditions.
Soil
Plant in well-drained soil for best results.
Before planting, test the pH level of the soil.
If the soil is overly acidic, mix in ground limestone, oyster shells, or wood ash.
Water
Water whenever the top inch of the soil becomes dry.
Moving forward, established oleander is not a heavy feeder.
Temperature and Humidity
Oleander can tolerate light frost and temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
Consider the following:
Propagating
Oleander can be propagated bystem cuttings.
When propagating oleander, you must wear protective clothing and gloves when handling the plant.
Here’s how to propagate by cuttings.
Pruning
Remember to wear protective clothing and gloves when handling this plant.
Oleanders bloom in summer on new growth.
Pinch the tips of young stems to prevent them from becoming leggy and also to encourage branching.
Prune out any damaged or diseased limbs.
Overwintering
Before winter weather arrives, cut the bush back generously by about two-thirds.
Pot the plant in good potting soil.
Care for oleander in pots by bringing the containers indoors.
Keep it out of reach of children or pets.
Even so, keep an eye out foraphids,mealybugs, andscale.
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Yes, highway departments often choose oleander for roadside plantings.
Shrubs need only minimal care in the garden.
They grow at a medium to fast pace, growing 1 to 2 feet or more per year.
Even established plants that have been damaged by cold temperatures can regrow rapidly from the base.
Wear protective gear when pruning oleander.
Sanitize your tools when you are finished.
Do not burn the plant as the smoke can cause serious reactions.
You may want to remove oleander if you have children and pets that may make contact with it.
Planting or growing oleander is prohibited in Norco, California.
The two plants are often confused for their shared characteristics.
Oleander is native to southern Asia and the Mediterranean whileRhododendronhas a hybrid origin.
Oleander grows in riverbanks and dry rocky watercourses, butRhododendrongrows most prolifically in shaded forests.
Oleander is hardy in USDA zones 8 through 10;Rhododendronis hardy in zones 6 through 8.
North Carolina State Extension.
OLEANDER PLANT–PROHIBITION.
