Shrubs
Oleander is widely grown for its carefree lifestyle and gorgeous, almost year-round star-shaped flowers. Oleander bush should be used with caution in residential landscapes due to its toxicity. Here's how to safely grow and maintain oleander in your home
Oleander Basics
The oleander can adapt to a variety of difficult conditions, such as drought, heat, and salty air. Plants are tolerant of poor soil and occasional light frosts. Oleander thrives in average soil with a neutral pH of 6.5 _ 7.5 and good drainage
How To Plant
Create a hole that is slightly deeper than the root ball and two to three times wider. In the planting area, loosen the soil and amend it with compost or other organic matter. If the plant is in a pot, take it out of the container and remove the roots. Add soil to the hole, tamp down gently to get rid of any air bubbles, and water thoroughly
When To Plant
During the cooler months of spring and fall. Plants can tolerate some shade, but less light can cause them to grow taller and produce fewer flowers
Where to set up
Choose a location that gets full sun
Watering
Root rot and soil yellowing can result from excessive watering. It's a good idea to give the soil time to dry out between watering. Watering containers will need to be done more often
Fertilizing
Oleander requires little or no additional fertilizer when planted in optimal conditions. Apply an all-purpose granular fertilizer in the early spring and again in the early fall if the soil is poor and the plants show slow growth, pale leaves, or few flowers. In the spring, mulch with a layer of compost
Pests And Disease
Aphaeresis gall, a bacterial disease that affects oleander leaves, leaf spot, sooty mold, and wood decay fungi are all examples. Aphids, mealybugs, the red spider mite, scale, the Oleander caterpillar, and the glassy-winged sharpshooter are examples of pests
Pruning
Oleander maintenance
On fresh wood, plants bloom
Reduce the remaining stems by one-fourth of their height
Bloom time
Throughout the year, with peak blooming during the warmer months.
Clumps of flowers: Pink, white, red, coral, purple, and yellow hues are common in clusters of five-petal funnel-shaped flowers
Foliage: On sturdy stems, olive-green or variegated leaves 2 1/2 to 8 inches long grow; there are fragrant varieties
Spacing: Depending on the variety, space the plants 4 to 12 feet apart. Container planting of oleander: Use all-purpose potting soil of high quality. Check that the drainage holes in the containers are adequate. For smaller varieties, containers should be 10 to 14 inches wide, and for larger cultivars, 14 to 24 inches wide
Landscapes and borders: Large and medium varieties can be used as hedging or screening, or they can grow naturally in the landscape. Ground covers, foundation plantings, curbside strips, and massed plantings are all possible applications for dwarf forms
For hillsides and slopes: For a carefree display that will also help prevent erosion, mass along a bank or slope
Containers include Containers work best with smaller specimens. Oleander can be grown in containers and overwintered indoors in colder climates than the Zone
Is Oleander a problem? Oleander can be invasive and difficult to eradicate due to its extensive root system in some southern regions. Is oleander resistant to deer? Oleander is protected from certain enemies, including deer, by its toxic properties. Is oleander toxic? The entire oleander plant is extremely toxic to both people and pets. Find out more about this below
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