# oleander (*Nerium oleander*) Oleander is a beautiful shrub with bright flowers that can be pink, white, or yellow. It grows well in warm places and is often found in gardens and parks. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 5/5 · Extreme - **Snaps:** 15 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![oleander](https://media.snappit.app/site-media-v1/fac77ae20ab6e7bd09eb1425a565782d8bfb45861769d8a52c7b460c6366f5cb/image-560x560/w-560.webp) ## Appearance The oleander is a dense evergreen shrub with leathery, narrow, dark green leaves. It produces abundant clusters of showy, funnel-shaped flowers in shades of pink, white, red, or yellow, making it a vibrant addition to many landscapes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Gentianales - **Family:** Apocynaceae - **Genus:** Nerium ## Interesting facts - Despite being poisonous, oleander extracts are studied for potential medical uses. - Even the smoke from burning oleander wood can be dangerous to breathe! - Its long, bean-like seed pods eventually split open to release fluffy seeds! - The oleander's scientific name, Nerium, might come from a Greek water nymph! ## Special abilities - **Poisonous Protector:** Oleander has powerful toxic compounds in all its parts that help it defend against being eaten by hungry animals. - **Drought Master:** Oleander has tough, leathery leaves and deep roots that help it survive with very little water in dry, hot places. - **Salt Warrior:** Oleander can grow in salty soils and coastal areas because it has special ways to handle the salt. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 200-600 cm - **Spread:** 150-400 cm - **Flower Size:** 2.5-7 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer to Fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Deadly - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from its flowers. - **Pollinates:** Old World swallowtail (*Papilio machaon*) — Visits oleander flowers for nectar. - **Eats:** [Oleander aphid](https://www.snappit.app/explore/oleander-aphid) (*Aphis nerii*) — Feeds on the sap of oleander leaves and stems. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Toxic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/toxic): Toxic organisms contain substances that are poisonous and can cause adverse effects upon exposure. - [Poisonous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/poisonous): Poisonous organisms produce toxins that can cause harm when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through contact. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 5/5 · Extreme Do not touch or eat any part of the oleander plant, as it can be harmful. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify oleander? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is oleander? 200-600 cm ### How wide does oleander spread? 150-400 cm ### How big are the flowers on oleander? 2.5-7 cm ### When does oleander bloom? Summer to Fall ### Is oleander edible? No ### Is oleander toxic? Deadly ### What is oleander's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Capen-Clark Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/capen-clark-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Charleston Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/charleston-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Fort Brown](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-brown) — US · Historic Site - [French Quarter](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/french-quarter) — US · Neighborhood - [Locust Grove State Historic Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/locust-grove-state-historic-site) — Louisiana, US · Nature Reserve - [Ardsley Park-Chatham Crescent Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ardsley-park-chatham-crescent-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District [View all places to see oleander](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/oleander) ## Watch - [Play video: oleander](https://www.snappit.app/videos/oleander) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=JWJ1s7rrxSQ) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Oleander: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/oleander)