Leaf
Kalaiyarasiselvam, Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Oleander
Nerium oleander L.
Also known as: Rosebay
Family: Apocynaceae
2 to 4 m tall
Mediterranean riverbeds, very widely planted
Flowering: June – September
Full sun
Not very hardy, to -10°C only
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
The whole plant is extremely toxic — never use its branches as skewers, even when dry.
🍃 Leaves
Evergreen, narrow, leathery, arranged in threes, dark green
🌸 Flowers
Large pink flowers (sometimes white), in dense clusters
🍎 Fruits
Long slender pods releasing silky seeds
🪵 Bark
Grey, toxic milky sap
🗺️ Distribution
Mediterranean, south-west Asia; occurs naturally in temporary riverbeds in southern France (Corsica, Var), very widely cultivated elsewhere.
🐝 Value for pollinators
Flowers rich in nectar, visited by butterflies and some insects, although the pollen is not easily accessible.
✂️ Horticultural uses
Planted as a specimen, in borders or tubs on the Mediterranean coast for its prolonged summer flowering and drought resistance; to be kept out of reach of children and animals.
⚠️ Possible toxicity
Extremely toxic in all its parts (cardiac glycosides); life-threatening even in small quantities, including through the smoke of burning wood.
🌿 Other Apocynaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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