The oleander spreads Mediterranean flair in every garden. We show what you should consider when planting, caring for and overwintering oleanders.
The sight of the pink flowers of the oleander (Nerium oleander) lets everyone feel the summer warmth on their skin. The Mediterranean plant is a beautiful ornamental shrub and brings warmth and Mediterranean flair to your home.
Oleander's resilience earned it the title of Hiroshima City Flower. The citizens of the Japanese city destroyed by an American atomic bomb in World War II chose the evergreen shrub as their beacon of hope. The oleander received this honor because it was the first plant to start flowering again after the attack. For 75 years the earth there was to be contaminated for all plants, but in the first year after that the pink blossoms of the oleander brought courage and hope to the city, which was completely in ruins.
Oleanders: origin and characteristics
Even in the time of Christ, the blossoms of the wild oleander shone in the Mediterranean Mediterranean regions. The pink flowering bushes populated the wet river valleys and meadows of the otherwise barren landscape. Today, however, they are rarely found there. Increasing urban sprawl and landscape restructuring have pushed back the oleander. All the more often it can be found in gardens and on terraces, where people bring the Mediterranean flair into their homes. Crossing with oleander bushes from Asia resulted in wonderful cultivars, the variety of which is now immense. Oleanders are evergreen shrubs to medium-sized trees, but they are not really hardy.
Oleander varieties
Although oleander is a single species, there are countless varieties and breeds. The main difference between them is their flowers. There are varieties with single or double, monochromatic or mottled flowers. The color spectrum ranges from white to pale yellow and soft pink todeep red. Growth forms and winter hardiness also vary slightly. Some varieties grow more as a dwarf shrub, while others can develop into real trees. The original wild form of the oleander, as it occurs naturally in the Mediterranean region, blooms pink and has no scent. The large variety of over 160 varieties was only created by crossing with Asian oleanders.
Buy oleanders
Oleanders are plentiful at most garden centers. However, getting hold of somewhat rarer varieties is not that easy. The most important criterion when buying should be the growth form of the plant. Also, examine the plant thoroughly for diseases and pests before purchasing. You can find details on how to buy the oleander and information on some dealers here.
Plant oleanders
The right location for the oleander is clearly a warm and sunny one. He also likes being protected from wind and heavy rain, for example by a stone or house wall.
Planting is best done in early spring, before the oleander really starts to grow. When planting and repotting the oleander, you should attach importance to nutrient-rich yet water-permeable soil. The optimal pH value is between 6 and 7. Our peat-free Plantura organic potting soil is a good choice for your oleander, for example. We have summarized the most important things about planting oleanders for you here.
Propagating oleanders
Propagating oleanders is very easy. New plants can be easily grown from cuttings and even rearing from seeds is possible without any problems. In this case, however, it will take a while for your seeded oleander to start flowering. We have compiled for you here exactly how to proceed with the oleander propagation.
Oleander care
The oleander is definitely one of the easy-care contemporaries. The most important point to consider when caring for it is that it should always have enough water and sufficient fertilizer available in summer. It is better to bring it inside in winter, but it can stay outside for a relatively long time, as it can survive down to -5 °C without frost damage. Find out more about caring for your oleander here.
Watering oleanders
Forget everything you normally have to consider when watering other plantsis. Oleander likes calcareous water - so the harder the better. Due to its natural habitat in river meadows, it has no problem with wet feet, in contrast to many other species. On the contrary - he even likes it. The oleander should only be watered sparingly in winter. In general, the cooler the oleander is wintered, the less it needs to be watered. You can find out more about watering oleanders in our special article.
Pruning oleanders
The robust oleander tolerates pruning well and even has no problems with vigorous pruning. You can prune it either in late autumn or early spring, with regular pruning again and again during the summer. It is better to wear gloves when cutting, as the escaping plant sap can irritate the skin. You can find out tips and tricks and everything else that needs to be considered when pruning the oleander here.
Fertilize oleanders
Some nutrients accumulate in the flood plains where the oleander occurs naturally. No wonder, then, that the oleander is one of the heavy feeders and needs a lot of nutrients. So fertilize your oleander at regular intervals from spring onwards. Rely on a long-term fertilizer like our Plantura organic flower fertilizer. The fertilizer season is over by the end of August at the latest, because the oleander needs enough time to winterize its young shoots. You can find out more about fertilizing your oleander in our special article on the subject.
Overwintering oleanders
The oleander is basically not hardy. Only in mild regions of Germany such as the Rhineland can it theoretically survive outdoors with the right protection. However, frost down to -5 °C and even short-term snow do not harm the oleander, which is why it can spend most of the year outside. Only in the winter months between the end of November and March should you bring the oleander to a cool winter quarters. Find out more about the correct overwintering of oleanders here.
Oleander: Common Diseases
Although the oleander is strong and hardy, it can also be affected by some diseases. Particularly common diseases are oleander canker, dry rot or, in extreme cases, even fire blight. In these cases, rigorous pruning of the affected parts of the plant usually helps. However, you should definitely pay attention to the hygiene of your cutting tools.
Gray mold and sooty mildew can also occur, but they are quite easy to combat andnot too dramatic. We have prepared the most important information about symptoms and how to combat the most important diseases of the oleander for you here.
Oleander: Common Pests
The most common pests on oleanders are aphids, scale insects and mealybugs. They can usually be effectively combated by showering with a hard jet of water and then spraying the plant with a mixture of water and soft soap. Spider mites are mainly a result of low humidity. Spraying the plants with water in dry winter quarters can have a preventive effect here. More detailed information about the various pests of the oleander and how to combat them can be found here.
Is the oleander poisonous?
First the bad news: all parts of the oleander are poisonous. But as the saying goes: the dose makes the poison. Nevertheless, make sure that children and pets do not nibble on the oleander. Here you can find out what makes the oleander poisonous, how to proceed in the event of poisoning and how the oleander is used.
Oleander not blooming: what to do about it
The most important reasons why an oleander does not bloom are usually the wrong location, over-fertilization or a mistake in pruning. In this article you will learn what you can do about missing flowers on the oleander.