Practical
Plants

Nerium oleander

Oleander

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Nerium genus in the family Apocynaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Nerium
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
4 m
Spread
4 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The whole plant is very poisonous[1][9][23]. Skin contact with the plant can cause irritation whilst ingestion of only one leaf has led to death in children[10][18]. Death has been known to follow the use of the wood of this plant as a meat skewer[10].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves and the flowers are cardiotonic, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, expectorant and sternutatory[24][4][12]. A decoction of the leaves has been applied externally in the treatment of scabies[24], and to reduce swellings[14]. This is a very poisonous plant, containing a powerful cardiac toxin[14], and should only be used with extreme caution[24][4]. The root is powerfully resolvent. Because of its poisonous nature it is only used externally. It is beaten into a paste with water and applied to chancres and ulcers on the penis[14]. An oil prepared from the root bark is used in the treatment of leprosy and skin diseases of a scaly nature[14]. The whole plant is said to have anticancer properties[12].

Product or use
Cancer
Product or use
Cardiotonic
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Resolvent
Product or use
Skin
Product or use
Sternutatory

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant is used as a rat poison[19], a parasiticide[24] and an insecticide[2]. The pounded leaves and bark are used as an insecticide[17]. A green dye is obtained from the flowers[7]. The plant is commonly used for informal hedging in the Mediterranean[26][10], though it is too tender for this use in Britain[K]. The leaves contain small amounts of latex that can be used to make rubber[13], though the amount is too small for commercial utilization[K]. The plants have an extensive root system and are often used to stabilize soil in warmer areas[5].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Insecticide
Product or use
Latex
Product or use
Parasiticide

Ecology and functions

Hedge

Earth stabiliser

Environment

Range
S.W. Europe to E. Asia.
Habitat
River banks and river gravels in Europe[21].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure, drought
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[3]. Do not use seed from pods infected with the bacterial disease 'oleander knot'[3]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter before planting them out in early summer. Cuttings of half-ripe side shoots, August/September in a frame. Good percentage[25]. Cuttings of mature leading shoots[1].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a heavy soil[20]. Prefers a light soil according to another report[11]. Requires a position in full sun[20][8]. Prefers a fertile well-drained soil[10]. Lime tolerant[10][11]. Plants are very tolerant of heat and also of drought once they are established[6]. Grows well in maritime gardens, tolerating salt-laden winds[10]. This species is not very hardy in Britain, though plants tolerate temperatures down to -5°c and short periods of temperatures down to -10°c[8][10][16]. A popular greenhouse pot plant that can be grown outdoors in the summer, it can be grown outdoors all year round in the milder areas such as Cornwall[1][16]. A very ornamental plant[1], there are many named varieties[10][16]. Plants are shy to flower when grown outdoors[20][22]. The flowers have a soft sweet perfume[15].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  2. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

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  3. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2

  4. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩1↩2

  5. Niebuhr. A. D. Herbs of Greece. Herb Society of America. 1970-00-00

    ↩

  6. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00

    ↩

  7. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

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  8. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩1↩2

  9. Stary. F. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-600-35666-3

    ↩

  10. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  11. Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-670-82929-3

    ↩1↩2

  12. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2

  13. Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0292780206

    ↩

  14. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  15. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  16. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  17. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

    ↩

  18. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    ↩

  19. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  20. Arnold-Forster. Shrubs for the Milder Counties.

    ↩1↩2↩3

  21. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  22. Thurston. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall.

    ↩

  23. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩

  24. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  25. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

  26. Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7012-0784-1

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