Oleander

The Oleander (Nerium oleander) is an native to northern Africa, eastern Mediterranean and southeast Asia. This evergreen plant from the dogbane (Apocynaceae) family can be grown as either a large shrub or a small tree.

A pretty blooming shrub with over 400 named cultivars, Oleander comes in a wide variety of colors and can withstand intense heat and is tolerant of drought conditions. Oleander has been used as a frequent roadside planting as it is able to withstand and thrive in the conditions of interstate medians.

Oleander is the host to the Oleander Moth and the Oleander Hawk Moth.

Oleander contains the toxins oleandrin, a cardiac glycoside, and neandrin and is toxic if ingested. Poisoning can bring on strong gastrointestinal symptoms and a high, erratic heartbeat. Care should be taken to keep this plant away from small children and pets prone to eating plants. The entire plant, including sap is toxic. When pruning, wash quickly if your skin comes into contact with the sap as it can irritate skin and cause extreme eye inflamation. When burned, caution should be taken to avoid the smoke produced from the fire as it may still contain toxins.