Oleander
Nerium oleander
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Apocynaceae
- Genus:
- Nerium
- Species:
- Nerium oleander
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 12-20 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Bloom Months:
- mar, apr, may, sep, oct, nov
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, red, white, yellow
Native Range
United States: Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Palau, South Carolina, Texas, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, Utah, Virgin Islands
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Faithful Beauty (Composia fidelissima), Honeydew moth (Cryptoblabes gnidiella), Mexican leafroller (Amorbia emigratella), Palpita moth (Palpita flegia), Polka-dot Wasp Moth (Syntomeida epilais), Pyroderces badia, Salt Marsh Moth (Estigmene acrea)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Crotch bumble bee (Bombus crotchii), Crotch bumble bee (Bombus crotchii) Butterflies:Blomfild's Beauty (Smyrna blomfildia), Blomfild's Beauty (Smyrna blomfildia), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Common Mestra (Mestra amymone), Common Mestra (Mestra amymone), Dusky-blue Groundstreak (Calycopis isobeon), Dusky-blue Groundstreak (Calycopis isobeon), Empress Leilia (Asterocampa leilia), Empress Leilia (Asterocampa leilia), Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis), Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Great Southern White (Ascia monuste), Great Southern White (Ascia monuste), Guatemalan Cracker (Hamadryas guatemalena), Guatemalan Cracker (Hamadryas guatemalena), Julia (Dryas iulia), Julia (Dryas iulia), Julia's Skipper (Nastra julia), Julia's Skipper (Nastra julia), Laviana White-Skipper (Heliopetes laviana), Laviana White-Skipper (Heliopetes laviana), Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus), Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus), Malachite (Siproeta stelenes), Malachite (Siproeta stelenes), Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon istapa), Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon istapa), Marius Hairstreak (Rekoa marius), Marius Hairstreak (Rekoa marius), Mercurila Skipper (Proteides mercurius), Mercurila Skipper (Proteides mercurius), Mexican Bluewing (Myscelia ethusa), Mexican Bluewing (Myscelia ethusa), Pale-spotted Leafwing (Memphis pithyusa), Pale-spotted Leafwing (Memphis pithyusa), Pavon Emperor (Doxocopa pavon), Pavon Emperor (Doxocopa pavon), Purple-washed Skipper (Panoquina lucas), Purple-washed Skipper (Panoquina lucas), Red-bordered Pixie (Melanis pixe), Red-bordered Pixie (Melanis pixe), Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia), Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia), Tailed Orange (Pyrisitia proterpia), Tailed Orange (Pyrisitia proterpia), Tropical Leafwing (Anaea aidea), Tropical Leafwing (Anaea aidea), Western Giant Swallowtail (Heraclides rumiko), Western Giant Swallowtail (Heraclides rumiko)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, sandy or gravelly soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.3 (slightly acidic to alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to Mediterranean regions with dry summers