$22.50$22.50. Oleander is an evergreen ornamental shrub or small tree with long, narrow, dark … All fresh or dry parts of the plant are toxic. Most cultivars will grow to 8 to 12 feet tall and almost as wide. [citation needed], Drugs derived from N. oleander have been investigated as a treatment for cancer, but have failed to demonstrate clinical utility. Oleander is a large, glabrous, ornamental evergreen shrub with a milky juice. [18] The best method for preventing further spread of the disease is to prune infected oleanders to the ground immediately after the infection is noticed. They are often, but not always, sweet-scented. It’s not all bad! socotranum, trunks of extreme pachycaul specimens, Socotra, Strophanthus gratus - note corona like that present in Nerium flower, Strophanthus petersianus: flowers, showing streamer-like corolla lobes, Spectacular flowers of Strophanthus speciosus, "Arali" redirects here. Oh sure, if you're a full-time horticulturist, micromanaging the needs of certain finicky plants is all in a day's work. As such it can be difficult to identify at first because gardeners may mistake the symptoms for those of drought stress or nutrient deficiency.[31]. All fresh or dry parts of the plant are toxic. Many cultivars, like 'Hawaii' or 'Turner's Carnival', are multi-colored, with brilliant striped corollas. Hardy versions like white, red and pink oleander will tolerate occasional light frost down to −10 °C (14 °F), though the leaves may be damaged. There is hardly a German family in the most arid parts of Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, but has its oleander trees. Winter hardy to USDA Zones 8-10. Virginia Commonwealth University. Because oleander is extremely bitter, officials speculated that the toddlers had developed a condition caused by malnutrition, pica, which causes people to eat otherwise inedible material. 79. In another mention, of "wild bay" (Daphne agria), Theophrastus appears to intend the same shrub. Grows well in average, medium moisture soils in full sun to part shade. Shrubs will form a mounded shape up to 10 feet wide. Nerium oleander is planted in many subtropical and tropical areas of the world. ... Caplan JP. [52] Pedanius Dioscorides states in his 1st century AD pharmacopeia De Materia Medica that the Romans used the Greek rhododendron but also the Latin Oleander and Laurorosa. Narrow, willow-like, linear-lanceolate, glossy dark green leaves (to 5” long) have distinctive midribs. Desai, Umesh R. Cardiac glycosides. Oleander has formed the subject matter of paintings by famous artists including: This morning Thea saw to her delight that the two oleander trees, one white and one red, had been brought up from their winter quarters in the cellar. Oleander plants (Nerium oleander) are among the most versatile of shrubs, with dozens of uses in southern and coastal landscapes. It holds up well as a street planting. Some of the deaths from oleander are accidental but others are due to suicide. Get to Know Oleander The genera most closely-related thus include the equally ornamental (and equally toxic) Adenium G.Don and Strophanthus DC. Nerium oleander is an evergreen Shrub growing to 4 m (13ft) by 4 m (13ft) at a fast rate. Plant Family: Apocynads (Apocynoideae) 2. For this reason gardeners are advised to prune mature shrubs in the autumn to shape and induce lush new growth and flowering for the following spring. The flowers grow in clusters at the end of each branch; they are white, pink to red,[Note 2] 2.5–5 cm (0.98–1.97 in) diameter, with a deeply 5-lobed fringed corolla round the central corolla tube. [33], Oleander flowers are showy, profuse, and often fragrant, which makes them very attractive in many contexts. Retrieved on 2009-07-27. Beyond the traditional Mediterranean and subtropical range of oleander, the plant can also be cultivated in mild oceanic climates with the appropriate precautions. Many cultivars are available in commerce with single or double flowers and in dwarf (2-4’ tall), medium (5-8’ tall) and large (9-20’ tall) plants. Symptoms of leaf scorch infection may be slow to manifest themselves, but it becomes evident when parts of otherwise healthy oleanders begin to yellow and wither, as if scorched by heat or fire. Oleander is native to Africa, Europe, North America, and the Mediterranean.Butler 2016 Oleander should not be confused with yellow oleander (Thevetia neriifolia), a related toxic plant.Jamal 2… [18] Because of its durability, oleander was planted prolifically on Galveston Island in Texas after the disastrous Hurricane of 1900. In the past, scented plants were sometimes treated as the distinct species, Tibesti-Jebel Uweinat montane xeric woodlands, "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, entry for, Bingtao Li, Antony J. M. Leeuwenberg, and D. J. Middleton. Oleander (flowers) Nerium oleander. [26][27] Fears of honey contamination with toxic oleander nectar are therefore unsubstantiated. [8], The ancient city of Volubilis in Morocco may have taken its name from the Berber name alili or oualilt for the flower.[9]. Many of the oleander relatives, such as the desert rose (Adenium obesum) found in East Africa, have similar leaves and flowers and are equally toxic. January 7, 2020. Different names for oleander are used around the world in different locations, so, when encountering a plant with this appearance, regardless of the name used for it, one should exercise great care and caution to avoid ingestion of any part of the plant, including its sap and dried leaves or twigs. Plants may suffer damage or die back in such marginal climates during severe winter cold but will rebound from the roots. However, its bitterness renders it unpalatable to humans and most animals, so poisoning cases are rare and the general risk for human mortality is low. The dried or fresh branches should not be used for spearing food, for preparing a cooking fire, or as a food skewer. With pruning, oleander can be kept at a shrub height, or it can be trained into a small tree reaching between 10 and 18 feet tall. White, pink or red five-lobed flowers grow in clusters year-round, peaking during the summer. Pruning out affected parts can slow the progression of the disease but not eliminate it. For other uses, see, This article is about the species of plant. "[39] In 2000, a rare instance of death from oleander poisoning occurred when two toddlers adopted from a Siberian orphanage ate the leaves from a neighbor's shrub in El Segundo, California. The plant is tolerant of poor soils, intense heat, salt spray, and sustained drought – although it will flower and grow more vigorously with regular water. Prolonged contact with sap may cause skin irritation, eye inflamation and dermatitis. [55], Oleander was a very popular ornamental shrub in Roman peristyle gardens; it is one of the flora most frequently depicted on murals in Pompeii and elsewhere in Italy. There is a wide range of toxins and secondary compounds within oleander, and care should be taken around this plant due to its toxic nature. [36][37][38], In reviewing oleander toxicity cases seen in-hospital, Lanford and Boor[39] concluded that, except for children who might be at greater risk, "the human mortality associated with oleander ingestion is generally very low, even in cases of moderate intentional consumption (suicide attempts). Cultivated plants rarely produce fruits. An extract of oleander contains naturally occurring phytochemicals (plant produced compounds) that have been removed from the structural material of the leaves of the plant. [34] The solid whites, reds and a variety of pinks are the most common. In fact, because of its hardiness, the plant is considered invasive in certain parts of the Southwest and around the Gulf Coast. Larvae of the common crow butterfly (Euploea core) and oleander hawk-moth (Daphnis nerii) also feed on oleanders, and they retain or modify toxins, making them unpalatable to potential predators such as birds, but not to other invertebrates such as spiders and wasps. It grows to between 2 and 5 m in height and has long, narrow leaves almost 13 to 30 cm in length and typically grouped in threes around the stem. [22][23][24] This is also the case with North American cities in the Pacific Northwest like Portland,[25] Seattle, and Vancouver. Nerium oleander contains xylem and phloem, which aid in transportation in the plant. From board-certified doctors and trusted medical professionals. During the winter they should be moved indoors, ideally into an unheated greenhouse or basement where they can be allowed to go dormant. Clemson University: Oleander Facts. 2004. [42] Induced vomiting and gastric lavage are protective measures to reduce absorption of the toxic compounds. [57] Some variants tell of this happening to Napoleon's or Alexander the Great's soldiers. The Nerium oleander plant -- also known as Jericho rose -- captivates many with its delicate form and showy, fragrant flowers. Where is this species invasive in the US. Oleander has historically been considered a poisonous plant because some of its compounds may exhibit toxicity, especially to animals, when consumed in large amounts. In his book Enquiries into Plants of circa 300 BC, Theophrastus described (among plants that affect the mind) a shrub he called onotheras, which modern editors render oleander; "the root of onotheras [oleander] administered in wine", he alleges, "makes the temper gentler and more cheerful". This is a high maintenance shrub that will require regular care and upkeep, and can be pruned at anytime. Oleander (Nerium oleander) is a fragrant flowering evergreen shrub or small tree that is in bloom from spring through fall.