Last updated on December 18th, 2024 at 07:16 am
Oleander Plant Care (Nerium Oleander) in the Southwest USA. Once established it is a carefree plant. Most will bloom from late spring until mid-summer. They produce long slender leaves that resemble Rosewood or Olive plants.
They are drought tolerant once they become well established, usually after the third year or so. For more blooms and better-looking Oleander’s water about once per week during the sweltering summer months. They will respond well and give you beautiful blooms from early spring until late fall. They thrive in poor soil but will do better if planted with good soil. They are fast growers and can be used as a border wall for privacy or street noise.
Oleanders are hard to kill, but they don’t like temperatures below 15° Fahrenheit. It is a plant that can be pulled out and planted elsewhere without problems. The USDA gardening zones for Oleanders are 8 through 10. Plant them in the full direct hot sun. They will also do well in the morning sun and late afternoon shade.
Types of Oleanders
There are about 40 types of varieties of Oleanders. Oleanders are drought tolerant after they get established. Typically after the third year after planting. Great flowering color all mid-spring till about mid-summer. The white, pink, and red oleanders are the most common. They will grow to about 15-20 ft. Tall and wide. Below are images of the most common ones.
The Hardy Pink Oleander
One of the most common Oleander is the Hardy Pink one. It will reach about 20 ft. in height and 10 maybe 15 ft. wide.
The Red Oleander
These bright red flowers will bloom from late spring until mid-summer. They will grow at about 20 ft. tall and 15 ft. wide. The red is the most common and can be seen throughout the American Southwest from Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and South Texas.
The White Oleander
The White Oleander will show off a ton of white blooms from late spring until most of the summer seasons. It is the hardiest and longest-blooming Oleander for the Desert Southwest.
The White Sands Oleander
It is a shorter version of the White Oleander (dwarf). It will reach about 4 maybe 5 ft. in height and 3-4 ft. wide. A good Oleander for a shorter type of border in any desert-style landscape. The flower is a bright white flower named after the White Sands national park.
Mrs. Roeding Oleander
This Oleander has a bright pink/peach color that is fragrant and will grow about 8 – 10 ft. in height 5-7 ft. wide. Another good shrub to use as a border plant or plant it by itself in the Southwest desert landscape scene.
The Yellow Oleander
It is not a real Oleander, but a (Thevetia Peruviana) species also called the Lucky Nut Tree. The leaves are long and slender, much like the Oleanders. The flower is yellow and resembles the white, pink oleander flowers. They will grow up to 10 ft in height and sometimes taller. Truly little maintenance is involved, and they will do well throughout the American Southwest.
You can also train these shrubs to grow as a single-trunk or multi-trunk tree. Just prune off the bottom suckers or smaller stems at the bottom for a great tree-like shrub. The leaves and stems are toxic.
The hardest part of this plant is finding a Nursery that carries one.
When to plant Oleanders?
The best time to plant them is about mid-spring or after the last frost. Anything below 15 degrees Fahrenheit and they will have a tough time growing.
Problems with Oleanders
Oleanders are very hardy in places where it rarely freezes but if temperatures dip into the teens or lower, they will get stressed and may not sprout out the following spring. The leaves will turn a grayish-colored appearance a good trimming close to the ground and they will sprout back out when early summer arrives.
It is susceptible to yellow aphids, Oleander gall, and Witch’s broom. Spraying with a good insecticide will quickly kill yellow aphids. You can also use neem oil as an organic substitute to kill these insects.
The Oleander gall also called woody warts and is a type of bacteria that attacks these plants. They can be trimmed off in late winter. It is best to trim 2-3 inches below the infected area and clean your pruning tools with 10% alcohol and water. Yes, it is a long process but the last thing you want is to infect another part of your plant. Be sure to toss the clipping into a large plastic bag or container—photos and information on Oleander Gall.
Learn more about Insects and Diseases on Plants.
Another thing you could do is trim down close to the surface leaving about 6 inches of stems protruding out. Oleanders are vigorous growers and will regrow to their original height in 1-2 years. If pruned in early spring they will grow back to their original height and width by mid-summer.
Are Oleanders Poisonous?
Yes, they are, ingesting or chewing on its stems or leaves and you will get very sick. It is rare that an adult person will die by eating a leaf or two, but it will make you sick. A child will get seriously ill and may die. Any part of the Oleander plant is highly toxic to all mammals. Take this into consideration before purchasing and planting Oleanders for your landscape area.
Always put your Oleander foliage and stems into a plastic bag and send them to your nearest city dump. Never burn Oleander trimmings or use them for compost or mulching as it is highly toxic. You can read more over at homeguides.sfgate.com
The National Poison Control Center phone number.
Despite their toxic qualities, these plants are seen throughout the Southwestern part of the U.S. from southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and south Texas.
Oleander Plant Care – American Southwest Plants
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If you have any questions or enjoyed this post, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
Please remind people that burning Oleander cuttings can kill you and your Neighbors.
You are correct Bonnie. The smoke and debris from Oleander plants are toxic and you should never burn or use them for compost or mulch. Your comment will be seen by hundreds