oleander
Nerium oleander L.
Oleander is an evergreen shrub whose narrow leaves provide a dark backdrop to terminal flower clusters. The foliage is tough and leathery, while the flowers have a much softer, flared outline. Garden selections include pink, white and peach-colored blooms, and dwarf forms differ markedly in size from large shrubs. All parts are poisonous if ingested. NC State Extension: Nerium oleander
Botanical name
Nerium oleander L. is accepted in Apocynaceae. The supplied scientific name matches the current Kew treatment. Kew Plants of the World Online: Nerium oleander
Recognizing the plant
Leaves are arranged opposite one another or in small whorls, often of three. They are long and lance-shaped, commonly about 4–7 inches long but less than an inch wide. Each flower has five spreading lobes and an additional crown around the throat. The fruit consists of two slender follicles that split open to release seeds with a tuft of hairs. NC State Extension: Nerium oleanderSingapore NParks: Nerium oleander
Bloom window
North Carolina cultivation
North Carolina Extension describes cultivated plants flowering from late spring through late summer. NC State Extension: Nerium oleander
Native range
Its native range extends from the Mediterranean region eastward to Myanmar. Wild plants grow along riverbanks and on poor soils; cultivation has carried the species into many other warm regions, including parts of the Americas and eastern Asia. Kew Plants of the World Online: Nerium oleanderSingapore NParks: Nerium oleander
Botanical sources
- Kew Plants of the World Online: Nerium oleander
- NC State Extension: Nerium oleander
- Singapore NParks: Nerium oleander
Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.