Nerium oleander - Rose Bay

Throughout summer, Nerium oleander produces clusters of small, single, bright pink flowers at the end of its branches. Oleander is not demanding about the nature of the soil and has amazing adaptability to the most difficult conditions; its only weakness is its rather mediocre hardiness, especially during its younger years. Its cultivation in open ground is reserved for warmer climates. However, in cooler regions, it can be planted in a large pot, which can be brought indoors to overwinter. An excellent greenhouse plant, it will delight enthusiasts of Mediterranean plants throughout the summer.

Nerium oleander ssp. oleander is an evergreen shrub of the Apocynaceae family, just like periwinkles or false jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides). The genus name, Nerium, is thought to come from its ancient Greek name, Nerion, derived from Nereus, a sea god in Greek mythology. Another interpretation links Nerium to neros, which means moist in Greek. The liquid element, underlying in both interpretations, is undoubtedly explained by the fact that wild oleander never grows far from water. Its long roots anchor deeply into the soil to draw in freshness, even on the slopes of gorges or in the beds of dried-up rivers.

It naturally forms a dense and bushy shrub, branching near the base, with a generally rounded habit. It will reach a height of 3 m to 4 m (9.8 ft to 13.1 ft) and a spread of 3 m (9.8 ft) at maturity, with rapid growth. Its flexible branches, covered with grey bark, bear long evergreen, thick and leathery leaves, with a somewhat greyish green on the upper side and lighter on the underside. They measure 10 cm to 15 cm (3.9 in to 5.9 in) in length and 3 cm (1.2 in) in width. In case of intense drought, Oleander sheds some of its leaves, particularly the oldest ones, located at the base of the stems. Flowering takes place in spring or summer depending on the climate, for 8 to 10 weeks in moist soil. The flowers, composed of a tube widening into 5 petals, 3 cm to 4 cm (1.2 in to 1.6 in) wide, are bright pink. They are gathered in corymbs mainly at the terminal part of 1 or 2-year-old branches. This nectar-rich and honey-producing flowering is followed by the formation of long reddish pods that burst when ripe, releasing a multitude of small seeds with a cluster of white bristles, dispersed by the wind. Be careful not to prune the oleander too severely: only stems that have reached a certain length bear flowers!

Oleander is an excellent coastal hedge plant but also a magnificent specimen to plant in isolation in a hot situation. Hardy down to -8° C to -10° C (17.6° F to 14° F) once well established, it will grow without any problem in any ordinary but well-drained soil. It can also be used as a hedge combined with other evergreen shrubs such as Cherry Laurel, Elaeagnus ebbingei, Mexican Orange, myrtles, and even Grevillea. In mild climates, it can be trained as a small tree by selecting the most beautiful stem and allowing it to branch out at a height of 1 m or 2 m (3.3 ft to 6.6 ft) from the ground. The resulting specimens are particularly ornamental but require a very mild winter that will not risk cutting them back to the ground: it would be a shame if severe frost destroyed several years of work in just a few hours! On a terrace, it will thrive in a large pot, alongside citrus trees, Grevillea, and other oleanders. This cultivation method allows the tree to be stored in a very bright, cool but frost-free location in cold regions.

Proof of its incredible resistance to drought, the Oleander is one of the only shrubs, along with Acacia and Retama (a type of broom), capable of facing the desert, anchored in the walls of ravines.