Nerium oleander Oleander PFAF Plant Database

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Nerium oleander - L.

Common Name

Oleander

Family

Apocynaceae

Synonyms

N. indica. N. odorum.

Known Hazards

The whole plant is very poisonous[1, 19, 65]. Skin contact with the plant can cause irritation whilst ingestion of only one leaf has led to death in children[200, 274]. Death has been known to follow the use of the wood of this plant as a meat skewer[200].

Habitats

River banks and river gravels in Europe[50].

Range

S.W. Europe to E. Asia.

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Care

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Nerium oleander is an evergreen Shrub growing to 4 m (13ft) by 4 m (13ft).
It is hardy to zone 8. It is in leaf 12-Jan It is in flower from Jun to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs)

Suitable for: medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.




http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Ian_Fieggen

Habitats
Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Hedge;

Edible Uses
None known

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Cancer; Cardiotonic; Diaphoretic; Diuretic; Emetic; Expectorant; Parasiticide; Resolvent; Skin; Sternutatory.

The leaves and the flowers are cardiotonic, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, expectorant and sternutatory[7, 147, 218]. A decoction of the leaves has been applied externally in the treatment of scabies[7], and to reduce swellings[240]. This is a very poisonous plant, containing a powerful cardiac toxin[240], and should only be used with extreme caution[7, 147]. The root is powerfully resolvent. Because of its poisonous nature it is only used externally. It is beaten into a paste with water and applied to chancres and ulcers on the penis[240]. An oil prepared from the root bark is used in the treatment of leprosy and skin diseases of a scaly nature[240]. The whole plant is said to have anticancer properties[218].

Other Uses

Dye; Hedge; Hedge; Insecticide; Latex; Parasiticide; Soil stabilization.

The plant is used as a rat poison[46], a parasiticide[7] and an insecticide[100]. The pounded leaves and bark are used as an insecticide[272]. A green dye is obtained from the flowers[168]. The plant is commonly used for informal hedging in the Mediterranean[89, 200], though it is too tender for this use in Britain[K]. The leaves contain small amounts of latex that can be used to make rubber[227], though the amount is too small for commercial utilization[K]. The plants have an extensive root system and are often used to stabilize soil in warmer areas[148].

Cultivation details

Prefers a heavy soil[49]. Prefers a light soil according to another report[202]. Requires a position in full sun[49, 184]. Prefers a fertile well-drained soil[200]. Lime tolerant[200, 202]. Plants are very tolerant of heat and also of drought once they are established[166]. Grows well in maritime gardens, tolerating salt-laden winds[200]. This species is not very hardy in Britain, though plants tolerate temperatures down to -5°c and short periods of temperatures down to -10°c[184, 200, 260]. A popular greenhouse pot plant that can be grown outdoors in the summer, it can be grown outdoors all year round in the milder areas such as Cornwall[1, 260]. A very ornamental plant[1], there are many named varieties[200, 260]. Plants are shy to flower when grown outdoors[49, 59]. The flowers have a soft sweet perfume[245].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[113]. Do not use seed from pods infected with the bacterial disease 'oleander knot'[113]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter before planting them out in early summer. Cuttings of half-ripe side shoots, August/September in a frame. Good percentage[78]. Cuttings of mature leading shoots[1].

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Expert comment

Author
L.

Botanical References
50200

Links / References

[K] Ken Fern Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956

Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[7]Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants.

Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.

[46]Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants.

An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[49]Arnold-Forster. Shrubs for the Milder Counties.

Trees and shrubs that grow well in Cornwall and other mild areas of Britain. Fairly good, a standard reference book.

[50]? Flora Europaea

An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.

[59]Thurston. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall.

Trees and shrubs that succeed in Cornwall based on the authors own observations. Good but rather dated.

[78]Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.

A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[89]Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean.

A very readable pocket flora that is well illustrated. Gives some information on plant uses.

[100]Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide.

An excellent and well illustrated pocket guide for those with very large pockets. Also gives some details on plant uses.

[113]Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation.

A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.

[147]? A Barefoot Doctors Manual.

A very readable herbal from China, combining some modern methods with traditional chinese methods.

[148]Niebuhr. A. D. Herbs of Greece.

A pleasant little book about Greek herbs.

[166]Taylor. J. The Milder Garden.

A good book on plants that you didn't know could be grown outdoors in Britain.

[168]Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants.

A very good and readable book on dyeing.

[184]Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs.

Excellent photographs and a terse description of 1900 species and cultivars.

[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.

Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[202]Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs.

Contains information on 2,000 species and cultivars, giving details of cultivation requirements. The text is terse but informative.

[218]Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China

Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.

[227]Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas

A readable guide to the area, it contains descriptions of the plants and their habitats with quite a bit of information on plant uses.

[240]Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).

Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.

[245]Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World.

An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

[260]Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2

Excellent photos of over 1,100 species and cultivars with habits and cultivation details plus a few plant uses. Many species are too tender for outdoors in Britain though there are many that can be grown outside.

[272]Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal

Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.

Readers comment

Elizabeth H.
Marie Roberts	Sat May 06 13:41:22 2000

We live in Lake Havasu Az. and have alot of Oleander bushes around the yard of the house we just bought... I have never heard of this problem before we moved here, but just about every one is telling us to keep the dog away from the bushes because they are loaded with ticks..These bushes are all over town... Why would people plant a bush that draws ticks...??

Elizabeth H.
Vincent Martinez	Sat Dec 7 22:44:17 2002

Link: Botanical http://www.botanical-online.com/fotosneriumoleander.htm

Elizabeth H.
Mary Sisson	Sun Sep 26 21:21:35 2004

Do you have any names or numbers of people in the US that sell Oleander Bushes, my brother would like to ask some questions regarding them, he has been selling a few and wanted more info on other sellers. Thank You

Elizabeth H.
Dolores williams	Sat Sep 23 2006

I've had 3 nerium oleander mini-bushes and for some reason they have not bloomed for the past 18 mos. the leaves are green and small shoots appear, but never color. I would appreciate any information or help you could give me. D. WILLIAMS -

Elizabeth H.
claudia	Thu Jun 14 2007

have u tried feeding it and giving it enough water? also make sure its get a lot of sun. maybe it needs also to get itself established. if not try miving to another location.hope this helps let me know otherwise

Elizabeth H.
	Thu Jul 19 2007

Ive also got one tree that has not bloomed this year but the leafs are turning green and falling off any help would be great thanks

Elizabeth H.
s.k.raja	Thu Sep 20 2007

hai every body, my name is s.k.raja. i am living in india. i would like to sell nerium oleander leafes. if you wanted , please contact.

google selling oleander

Elizabeth H.
Karint KorngKar NymPh - Ms.	Fri Oct 12 2007

I need more cost and some people to join to develope my products " LunarCot's Mice Beater " which made from Nerium Oleander. This product is well known, popular and be talk of the town in Thailand, Japan, and the SEA. Please see : http//www.LunarCot.org

LunarCot: Mice Beater : products made from Oleander

Elizabeth H.
Rupak	Sat Jan 5 2008

hi, dear S.K. Raja i'm realy intrested in your offer of nerium oleander leafes. i am living in India only, so please contact rupakpatil@yahoo.com or 09822038434

Elizabeth H.
frances swan	Tue Apr 8 2008

How do you prune the nerium oleander plant. I bought it last year and most of the leaves have come off and it does not look very well. Do I cut it back like a budlia bush as there are no care instructions on the label.

Elizabeth H.
Rupak Patil	Wed Apr 9 2008

Need Oleander Leaves urgently for processing. Suppliers please contact rupakpatil@yahoo.com or 09822038434

Elizabeth H.
priya bhardwaj	Tue Jul 8 2008

do nerium indicum shows anti-carcinogenic properties? what are the components responsible for its anti- carcinogenic property.

Elizabeth H.
kulkarni	Mon Oct 5 2009

I have neriums and they are infected with some disease.i am not able to cure it. the leaves older as well as new shoots are getting spoiled. the stem turns brown and the leaves have spots on it.i tried using fungal and insect sprays but did not help. tried watering less . observed for stem borr. but could not find any. also i am watring recycled water.does it affect to them by any means?

Elizabeth H.
nadeem ansari	Tue Oct 27 2009

yahoo.com nerium indicum

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