Scientific Name:
Nerium oleander
Pronunciation:
NEER-ee-um OH-lee-an-dur
Common Name:
oleander, rose bay
Family Name:
Apocynaceae
Plant Type:
Broadleaf evergreen, Flowering pot plant
Key ID Features:
Leaves opposite linear to narrowly elliptic, glossy dark green leaves, prominent midribs, up to 12cm long; florets in terminal cymes, petals (5 or cvs. with 10) fused at base, purple, pink or white.
Habit:
Spreading, Upright
Form:
Vase
Texture:
Medium - coarse
Mature Height:
2 - 3m
Mature Spread:
1.0 - 1.5m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Africa, Europe
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 8b: (-9.4 to -7 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Humus rich, Well-drained
Water Use:
Summer dry
Landscape Uses:
Container planting, Indoor plant (Caution: poisonous parts)
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Opposite, Whorled
Texture/Venation:
Leathery
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Colour in Summer:
Dark-green, Silver / Grayish
Colour in Fall:
Dark-green, Silver / Grayish
Shapes:
Elliptic, Linear
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Acute
Margins:
Entire
Additional Info:
Trichomes only in sunken cavities on lower leaf surface
Inflorescence Type:
Cyme
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Funnelform
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
White, Pink, Red
Flower Scent:
Fragrant
Flower Time at Peak:
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Oct
Additional Info:
Fruit insignificant, Narrow. Seeds oblong with a plume of hairs at one end.
Bark Morphology:
Lightly fissured
Bark or Stem Colour:
Grey
Propagation:
Seed
Light Level:
High
Maintenance:
Low
Other:
Keep in cool greenhouse and move outdoors in summer.
Pest Susceptibility:
Aphids or adelgids, Bacterial leaf spot, Galls, Scale insects (Pest resistant, Disease resistant, Deer resistant, Rabbit resistant, Drought tolerant)
