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OLEANDER – Common name for plants of the genus Nerium. Oleanders arc well-known evergreen shrubs, grown in pots or tubs in the North for conservatory, window-garden, or porch decoration, and outdoors in warm climates. Despite the fact that the stems, leaves and flowers arc poisonous to man and beast if eaten and are beloved by scale insects and mealy bugs, they have long been popular subjects. Plants thrive in good loamy soil, and it is not difficult to have good specimens if attention is paid to resting and cutting them back after flowering, and subsequent shaping and feeding when growth is active. Good well-ripened shoots arc essential for free flowering, so they should be fully exposed to air and light. Propagated by cuttings of mature wood, which are often rooted in water.

Oleanders may be infested with mealy bugs, soft scale and white or oleander scale. To control all these, fumigate greenhouses or spray plants repeatedly with nicotine or pyrethrum and soap. In Fla. a fungus often causes witches brooms (which see) on this host. The plants are stunted and flower production ceases. Prune out all brooms together with 12 in. of the branches on which they are growing; then spray with 3-3-50 bordeaux mixture. Burn all prunings.

Principal Species

Nerium oleander (Oleander) native in South Europe, is the one most widely grown. It may attain 20 ft., and is attractive at all times with its dark green leathery leaves, up to 8 in. long. The large showy flowers are borne in terminal clusters, rosy-red in the type. There arc numerous varieties ranging in color from white to bright red, and with double as well as single flowers.

odoru (Sweet-scented Oleander), an Asiatic species, is a less robust grower with more slender leaves. It bears very large clusters of rosy-pink and musky scented flowers.

Yellow-oleander is the common name for Thevetia nereifolia.