There are different ways to propagate your oleander in the garden. We show how propagation via seeds, offshoots & Co. works.

Oleander can be propagated using different methods
Propagating

Oleander (Nerium oleander) is easy and fun. The plant can be propagated either via seed or cuttings, root division and even grafting. We have put together the most important information about propagating the plant for you here.

If you already own an oleander, you will soon want more. Why not, when breeding is so easy? But beware: Propagating oleanders can be addictive.

Propagating oleanders by seeds

After flowering, brown pods form, in which seeds similar to those of the dandelion ripen. These seeds can of course be used for propagation and are particularly important as a base for later grafting. But propagation can also be exciting for the sake of the seedlings. However, many oleanders are hybrids, which means they are a cross between two different varieties and are therefore not varietal. Seedlings of these hybrids are therefore often very different from each other and from the mother plant. Even with varietal oleander varieties, the young plants can look different if they have been crossed with pollen from another oleander plant. So let yourself be surprised. However, the young plants do not start flowering until their third year.

Before sowing, soak the seeds in lukewarm water for a few hours to allow them to swell before dispersing them in a flowerpot on a rather nutrient-poor substrate such as coconut soil. The Plantura organic herb and seed soil is also ideal for this purpose - it offers your oleander optimal starting conditions. Cover the seeds with some soil and place the bowl in a light and warm place. The soil should be kept moist. A nursery or cling film that you stretch over the edge of the pot is helpful here. It can take a few weeks for the seeds to germinate. The best time to plant seeds is in early spring, but basically it's year-roundpossible.

The brown fruits of the oleander contain countless small shielded seeds

Summary of propagating oleanders by seeds:

  • Soak Seeds
  • Place on nutrient-poor substrate and cover with some soil
  • Keep moist and warm at all times
  • Wait a few weeks

Propagating oleanders by cuttings

Propagating oleanders from cuttings is fairly easy. Use the trimmings left over from pruning. It doesn't matter whether the branches are woody or fresh young shoots, they should only be about a foot long and have no buds. Remove the leaves from the lower part of the cuttings and place them in a glass of water in a warm place. To prevent algae growth and improve rooting results, you can wrap the jar in aluminum foil or some other opaque material. You will see that after about four weeks your cuttings will have enough roots for you to plant them. Alternatively, you can stick the cuttings directly into a pot with soil. For quick rooting, it is advantageous if you use green waste from the growing season - i.e. between May and August.

Propagating oleanders by cuttings:

  • Especially possible during the growing season between May and August
  • Prune 20 to 30 cm long branches without buds (e.g. when pruning annually)
  • Remove the leaves from the lower part of the branch
  • Place the branch in a glass of water or stick it directly into the ground
  • Put the cutting in a warm place and water it sufficiently
For cuttings, use shoots without buds

Propagating oleanders by division

Large oleanders can also be divided if the growth habit allows it. To do this, take the plant out of the bucket and carefully divide the root ball so that both parts have enough shoots left. You should cut back some shoots so that the two parts of the oleander can first put their strength into the roots and do not have to take care of too much leaf mass. Then pot both parts in sufficiently large pots. The two halves of the oleander will have recovered within a short time and will do everything possible to return to their original size as quickly as possible.

Summary Propagating oleanders by division:

  • Older oleander plant with sufficient numbersuse on shoots
  • Divide the root ball so that both halves still have enough shoots
  • Shorten some shoots
  • Place both parts in a sufficiently large pot
If your oleander is big enough and has enough shoots, you can divide it

Propagating oleanders by grafting

If your oleander tends to have problems with root pests, or if your favorite oleander variety is rather slow-growing, you can also graft it. As a base you need an offshoot of a robust and well-growing oleander variety. It is best to grow a young plant from seeds from this. When this is thick enough, cut an equally thick scion from the desired oleander, which you can then graft onto the rootstock. The best time is in spring just before the start of the growing season. Very clean cuts are particularly important for the refinement to work. So before the measure, clean your knife thoroughly to prevent contamination and do not touch the interfaces.

Both the base and the scion are now - for this technique known as copulation - cut at an angle and placed on top of each other. For advanced users in terms of finishing, other cutting techniques are of course also possible. No matter which technique you choose, it is definitely of great importance that the cut is straight and neat. Now wrap the interface with tree bast and create the best atmosphere for the freshly grafted oleander.

It will take a while before you can admire your result. However, finishing needs to be learned. If you don't get it right the first time, don't give up hope and just try again.

Summary Propagating Oleanders by Grafting:

  • If your favorite oleander is slow-growing, grafting is a good idea
  • The best time is in spring
  • Be sure to use a clean and sharp knife
  • Choose a robust young plant grown from seed as a rootstock
  • Cut a scion that is as thick as the base
  • Both base and scion are cut with a long bevel and placed on top of each other
  • Wrap the interface with bast
  • Wait and have tea

We will tell you here how best to plant your oleander and which location it prefers.

Category:

Trees