Growing Nerium

Latin Name Pronunciation:  neer' ee-um  

Nerium is a genus of one species, Nerium oleander, in the Dogbane family (Apocynaceae). This tender, evergreen shrub displays spectacular clusters of colorful funnel-shaped flowers. Oleander is easy to grow in average, well-drained soil in full sun and is tolerant of salt, making it a good seaside plant. It works well as a container plant. In areas colder than Zone 8, grow as a summer annual or overwinter indoors. All parts of the plant are highly toxic.

Light: Full sun is best for this plant, which tends to get leggy and bloom less with shade.

Soil: Not fussy about soil, average soil is fine, although it must be well-drained. In sandy soil the addition of compost is beneficial.

Watering: Tolerant of drought once established but may require supplemental water in hot weather.

Fertilizing: Fertilizer is rarely needed, especially if plants are grown near an already fertilized lawn. If leaves look pale or flowering diminishes, apply a slow-release low-nitrogen granular fertilize, preferably in spring. Plants grown in containers will need to be fertilized with a liquid or water-soluble bloom-boosting formulation such as White Flower Farm’s All Bloom, which is 15-30-15, every 3-4 weeks.

Pruning: Plants may be pruned to shape or to reduce the size of the plant, and old canes can be removed to rejuvenate the plant, but do so with extreme caution. Always wear gloves and long sleeves and keep children and pets away until the toxic, irritating sap dries.

Overwintering: Oleander plants can either be kept semi-dormant in a cool room with bright light and reduced watering, or encouraged to keep blooming in direct sunlight with more water.

Pests/Diseases: This plant is generally not bothered by common pests.