Oleander (Nerium oleander, Sp. Pl.: 209 (1753))

Family: Apocynaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 209 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Nerium

Vegetable: False

Observations: Medit. to Myanmar

Description

Oleander, scientifically known as Nerium oleander, is a stunning and resilient evergreen shrub commonly found in gardens and landscapes across regions spanning from the Mediterranean to Myanmar. Belonging to the Apocynaceae family, this plant showcases remarkable adaptability and is renowned for its beautiful, fragrant flowers and hardy nature.

Typically growing to a height of 6-20 feet, Oleander stands as a versatile plant, often used for hedging, screening, or as a standalone ornamental feature. It is highly valued for its long-lasting flowers, which can bloom from early summer to late fall. The flowers come in a variety of colors, including white, pink, red, and yellow, each exuding a delicate fragrance that adds to the plant’s allure.

The leaves of the Oleander are leathery, lance-shaped, and dark green, arranged in pairs or whorls along the stems. These glossy leaves provide a lush backdrop that highlights the vivid blooms, making the plant an attractive choice for gardeners and landscapers alike.

Oleander is not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly resilient. It thrives in full sun, tolerates poor soil, and is remarkably drought-resistant once established. However, it is important to note that all parts of the Oleander plant are highly toxic if ingested, a characteristic that necessitates caution, especially in households with children or pets.

The plant’s origin can be traced back to ancient times, with a bibliographic reference found in “Sp. Pl.: 209 (1753)” by the author L. (Linnaeus). Its enduring popularity through centuries owes much to its robust nature and the striking beauty it adds to any setting.

In summary, the Oleander is a dazzling combination of beauty and resilience. While demanding respect due to its toxicity, it remains a favored choice among gardeners, landscape designers, and plant enthusiasts, continuing to embellish gardens and landscapes across its native and introduced ranges.

Common Names

Deu: gewöhnlicher oleander, oleander
Eng: oleander, rose bay, rose-laurel
Mlt: oljandru
Spa: adelfa, balandre, laurel rosa, pascua
Fra: laurier rose, oleandre
Swe: nerium, oleander
Afr: selonsroos
Nld: franse bloem, oleander
Ara: defla, haban
En: Oleander, Rose-laurel, Rose bay, Ilili, Kenyéri, Common oleander, Rose-bay
Af: Selonsroos
Ar: Haban, تفلة, Defla, Diflâ
Hy: Դափնեվարդ
Az: Adi oleandr
Eu: Heriotzorri
Be: Алеандр
Bn: করবী
Bg: Зокум
My: နွယ်သာကီပင်
Ca: Baladre, Llorer rosa, Oleandre
Zh: 夹竹桃, 夾竹桃
Hr: Oleandar
Cs: Oleandr obecný
Da: Nerie
Nl: Oleander, Franse bloem
Eo: Oleandro
Fi: Oleanterit
Fr: Oleandre, Laurier rose, Laurier-rose, Oléandre, Nérion, Rosage, Nérion laurier-rose
Gl: Adelfa
Ka: Ოლეანდრე
De: Oleander, Gewöhnlicher Oleander, Rosenlorbeer, Wohlriechender Oleander
El: Πικροδάφνη
Gu: કરેણ
He: הרדוף הנחלים
Hi: कनेर
Hu: Leander
Io: Rozlauro
Id: Bunga jepun
Ga: Oiliandar
It: Mazza di San Giuseppe, Oleandro, Rosagine, Oleandrio
Ja: Kyōchiku-tō
Jv: Kembang mentéga
Kn: ಗಣಗಲೆ ಹೂ
Kk: Oleandr, Олеандр, ولەاندر
Ko: 협죽도
Ku: Rûl
Lv: Oleandrs
Mk: Зокум
Ms: Bunga anis
Ml: അരളി
Mt: Oljandru
Mr: कण्हेर
Ne: श्वेत करबीर
No: Oleander
Pa: ਕਨੇਰ
Ps: گنډېری
Fa: خرزهره
Pl: Oleander
Pt: Oleandro, Loendro, Espirradeira
Pt-br: Oleandro, Espirradeira
Ru: Олеандр
Sc: Oliandru
Sr: Олеандер
Es: Adelfa, Pascua, Balandre, Laurel rosa, Baladre, Llorer rosa, Oleander, Laurel falso
Sv: Nerium, Oleandersläktet, Oleander
Tl: Adelpa
Ty: Tārona
Zh-tw: 夾竹桃
Tg: Бедгул
Ta: அரளி
Tt: Талгөл
Te: గన్నేరు
Th: ยี่โถ
To: Lolie
Zh-hant: 夾竹桃
Tr: Zakkum
Uk: Олеандр індійський
Vi: Trúc đào

Synonyms

• Nerium oleander atropurpureum-plenum (Hovey)
• Nerium kotschyi (Boiss.)
• Nerium oleander var. flore-variegato (G.Lodd.)
• Nerium latifolium (Mill.)
• Nerium splendens (Paxton)
• Nerium thyrsiflorum (Paxton)
• Nerium carneum (Dum.Cours.)
• Nerium verecundum (Salisb.)
• Nerium mascatense (A.DC.)
• Nerium oleander var. atropurpureum (Van Houtte)
• Nerium lauriforme (Lam.)
• Nerium luteum (Nois. ex Steud.)
• Nerium odoratum (Lam.)
• Oleander indica ((Mill.) Medik.)
• Oleander vulgaris (Medik.)
• Nerium odoratissimum (Wender.)
• Nerion oleandrum (St.-Lag.)
• Nerium indicum var. aurantiacum (Poit.)
• Nerium indicum var. luteum (Poit.)
• Nerium oleander subsp. kurdicum (Rech.f.)
• Nerium indicum subsp. kotschyi ((Boiss.) Rech.f.)
• Nerium oleander var. album (G.Lodd.)
• Nerium indicum var. oxiacantholens (Poit.)
• Nerium madonii (M.Vincent)
• Nerium indicum var. plenum (Makino)
• Nerium oleander var. radicans (Poit.)
• Nerium indicum f. lutescens ((Makino) Okuyama)
• Nerium indicum var. ochroleucum (Poit.)
• Nerium indicum f. leucanthum ((Makino) Okuyama)
• Nerium flavescens (Spin)
• Nerium floridum (Salisb.)
• Nerium indicum var. splendens (Poit.)
• Nerium oleander var. pictum-argenteum (Van Geert)
• Nerium japonicum (Gentil)
• Nerium indicum (Mill.)
• Nerium odorum (Aiton)
• Nerium oleander var. luteomarginatum (Van Geert)
• Nerium oleander var. madonii-grandiflorum (Hovey)
• Nerium atropurpureum (Bürger)
• Nerium indicum var. lutescens (Makino)
• Nerium indicum var. odorum ((Aiton) Poit.)
• Nerium indicum var. ragonotii (C.Morren)
• Nerium oleander var. indicum ((Mill.) O.Deg. & Greenwell)
• Nerium indicum var. leucanthum (Makino)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Corse (native)
• Cyprus (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• France (native)
• Greece (native)
• Gulf States (native)
• India (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Italy (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Libya (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Myanmar (native)
• Nepal (native)
• Niger (native)
• Oman (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• Spain (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• Ascension (introduced)
• Azores (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Belize (introduced)
• Bermuda (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• Cameroon (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Caroline Is. (introduced)
• Chad (introduced)
• Chagos Archipelago (introduced)
• China North-Central (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Comoros (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• El Salvador (introduced)
• Eritrea (introduced)
• Ethiopia (introduced)
• Gilbert Is. (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
• Hainan (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Honduras (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Juan Fernández Is. (introduced)
• Kenya (introduced)
• Kermadec Is. (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Krym (introduced)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (introduced)
• Line Is. (introduced)
• Madagascar (introduced)
• Madeira (introduced)
• Manchuria (introduced)
• Marianas (introduced)
• Marshall Is. (introduced)
• Mexico Central (introduced)
• Mexico Northeast (introduced)
• Mexico Southeast (introduced)
• Mexico Southwest (introduced)
• Nauru (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• Nicaragua (introduced)
• Panamá (introduced)
• Senegal (introduced)
• Society Is. (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Tuamotu (introduced)
• Tubuai Is. (introduced)
• Western Sahara (introduced)
• Zimbabwe (introduced)

Additional Images

Leaf

Taken Dec 13, 2020 by Kerstin Krüger (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 27, 2018 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 6, 2021 by JM (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 22, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 23, 2016 by Della maggiore Fabio (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Nov 6, 2021 by JM (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 9, 2018 by Victor Otárola (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 27, 2018 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 27, 2018 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 27, 2018 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Fruit

Taken Nov 22, 2017 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 22, 2017 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 27, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 27, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 27, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Oct 12, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 27, 2021 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 25, 2020 by Irmgard Groß (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 9, 2021 by Paula Ley Valero (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 23, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Nov 5, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 16, 2020 by Gabrielle Milverton (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 9, 2017 by Mehmet Basbag (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 20, 2022 by Annemarie Ahrens-Stehle (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 31, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Dec 26, 2020 by Enric Giralt (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 15, 2021 by Daria Daria (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 27, 2021 by Sabin Poenariu (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 15, 2022 by Monteiro Henrique (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 8, 2020 by Monteiro Henrique (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3169756)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:80460-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Nerium oleander L.)

Specifications

Growth form: Multiple Stem

Growth habit: Tree, Shrub

Growth rate: Rapid

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.8

Ph minimum: 5.5

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 7

Soil nutriments: 6

Soil salinity: 1