Nerium oleander is in the same plant family as vinca and mandevilla, and you can see the family resemblance in the brightly colored, flared, tube-shaped flowers. [28] The disease has since decimated hundreds of thousands of shrubs mainly in Southern California, but also on a smaller scale in Arizona, Nevada and Texas. Widely cultivated as an ornamental shrub or as an informal hedge in warm climate areas, Nerium oleander is a beautiful medium-sized evergreen shrub. The plant has been described under a wide variety of names that are today considered its synonyms:[11][12]. There is hardly a German family in the most arid parts of Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, but has its oleander trees. In some protected areas mature plants may reach up to 20 feet tall. White, pink or red five-lobed flowers grow in clusters year-round, peaking during the summer. Get to Know Oleander Extremities may become pale and cold due to poor or irregular circulation. Purple, pink or white five-petaled funnel-shaped flowers in clusters (terminal cymes). Retrieved on 2018-03-26. International Oleander Society: Information on Oleander toxicity. The plant has a leaf like that of the almond, but smaller, and the flower is red like a rose. As such it can be difficult to identify at first because gardeners may mistake the symptoms for those of drought stress or nutrient deficiency.[31]. All fresh or dry parts of the plant are toxic. Nerium oleander is a highly toxic plant from the Apocynaceae family. Origin: Mediterranean area, Mid East and China 8. evergreen, woody plant 9. Xylem primarily transports water and other nutrients from the soil and phloem primarily transports sugars. Hardy to U.S. … Tweet; Description: It is an evergreen shrub (or small tree) that grows to approximately 6 m. A sticky latex is exuded if the stem is cut. It belongs to (and gives its name to) the small tribe Nerieae of subfamily Apocynoideae of the dogbane family Apocynaceae. Each flower has five petals that spread out like the blades of a fan. [citation needed], Oleander sap can cause skin irritations, severe eye inflammation and irritation, and allergic reactions characterized by dermatitis. [13][14][15][16] It typically occurs around stream beds in river valleys, where it can alternatively tolerate long seasons of drought and inundation from winter rains. Barcelona Botanic Gardens: Plants of North Africa. Nerium oleander, commonly called oleander, is an upright, rounded evergreen sub-tropical to tropical shrub that is valued for its abundant, fragrant, summer to fall flowers. Suitable for: medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. [citation needed]. They are so prolific that Galveston is known as the 'Oleander City'; an annual oleander festival is hosted every spring. The genera most closely-related thus include the equally ornamental (and equally toxic) Adenium G.Don and Strophanthus DC. The etymological association of oleander with the bay laurel has continued into the modern day: in France the plant is known as "laurier rose",[7] while the Spanish term, "Adelfa", is the descendant of the original Ancient Greek name for both the bay laurel and the oleander, daphne, which subsequently passed into Arabic usage and thence to Spain. However, its bitterness renders it unpalatable to humans and most animals, so poisoning cases are rare and the general risk for human mortality is low. In his book Enquiries into Plants of circa 300 BC, Theophrastus described (among plants that affect the mind) a shrub he called onotheras, which modern editors render oleander; "the root of onotheras [oleander] administered in wine", he alleges, "makes the temper gentler and more cheerful". Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage. "[39] In 2000, a rare instance of death from oleander poisoning occurred when two toddlers adopted from a Siberian orphanage ate the leaves from a neighbor's shrub in El Segundo, California. They are often, but not always, sweet-scented. Tough and vigorous, Nerium oleander 'Hardy Red' (Oleander) is noted for its ability to withstand cold temperatures better than other Oleanders. In Mediterranean climates oleanders can be expected to bloom from April through October, with the heaviest bloom usually occurring between May and June. Snopes: Legend of Oleander-poisoning at Campfire. It was first classified by Linnaeus, although some people dispute this. Leaves: leathery, lan… Some dwarf cultivars stay as low as 3 to 5 feet. [22][23][24] This is also the case with North American cities in the Pacific Northwest like Portland,[25] Seattle, and Vancouver. Container plants may be grown as shrubs or trained as ornamental standards. A 2014 article in the medical journal Perspectives in Biology and Medicine posited that oleander was the substance used to induce hallucinations in the Pythia, the female priestess of Apollo, also known as the Oracle of Delphi in Ancient Greece. Purple, pink or white five-petaled funnel-shaped flowers in clusters (terminal cymes). Oleander (Nerium oleander) is a striking evergreen shrub characterized by long, lance-shaped leaves, a resilient disposition and fragrant blooms in shades of reds, pinks, yellow and white. [52] Pedanius Dioscorides states in his 1st century AD pharmacopeia De Materia Medica that the Romans used the Greek rhododendron but also the Latin Oleander and Laurorosa. Shmida, A., Ivri, Y., and Cohen, D. The enigma of the oleander. The plant belongs to the family Apocynaceae (the dogbane family), one of the largest plant families. [8], The ancient city of Volubilis in Morocco may have taken its name from the Berber name alili or oualilt for the flower.[9]. Oleander (Nerieae) 3. [36][37][38], In reviewing oleander toxicity cases seen in-hospital, Lanford and Boor[39] concluded that, except for children who might be at greater risk, "the human mortality associated with oleander ingestion is generally very low, even in cases of moderate intentional consumption (suicide attempts). [33], Oleander flowers are showy, profuse, and often fragrant, which makes them very attractive in many contexts. [2] The genus name Nerium is the Latinized form of the Ancient Greek name for the plant nẽrion (νήριον), which is in turn derived from the Greek for water, nẽros (νηρός), because of the natural habitat of the oleander along rivers and streams. From board-certified doctors and trusted medical professionals. Winter hardy to USDA Zones 8-10. [40] A spokesman for the Los Angeles County Coroner's office stated that it was the first instance of death connected to oleander in the county, and a toxicologist from the California Poison Control Center said it was the first instance of death he had seen recorded. Nerium oleander 'Splendens', N. oleander 'Mrs. Larvae of the common crow butterfly (Euploea core) and oleander hawk-moth (Daphnis nerii) also feed on oleanders, and they retain or modify toxins, making them unpalatable to potential predators such as birds, but not to other invertebrates such as spiders and wasps. Do … With pruning, oleander can be kept at a shrub height, or it can be trained into a small tree reaching between 10 and 18 feet tall. Pruning oleander (Nerium oleander) grown in the ground. Sometimes also commonly called rosebay.Genus name comes from the classical Greek name.Specific epithet comes from the Italian oleandro for its olive-like leaves. Oleander is a large, glabrous, ornamental evergreen shrub with a milky juice. The word oleander appears as far back as the first century AD, when the Greek physician Pedanius Dioscorides cited it as one of the terms used by the Romans for the plant. It is the only species currently classified in the genus Nerium. In cold winter climates, oleander is a popular summer potted plant readily available at most nurseries. Oleander is a member of the Apocynaceae family, along with star jasmine and periwinkle. [57] Some variants tell of this happening to Napoleon's or Alexander the Great's soldiers. [34] The solid whites, reds and a variety of pinks are the most common. It grows to heights between 6.5' and 19.5' tall and 6' to 10' wide. In July 2009, several horses were poisoned in this manner from the leaves of the plant. (eds.) In fact, because of its hardiness, the plant is considered invasive in certain parts of the Southwest and around the Gulf Coast. [26][27] Fears of honey contamination with toxic oleander nectar are therefore unsubstantiated. Height growth: up to 3 m 10. The dried or fresh branches should not be used for spearing food, for preparing a cooking fire, or as a food skewer. Nerium oleander /ˈnɪəriəm ˈoʊliːændər/,[1] most commonly known as oleander or nerium, is a shrub or small tree belonging to subfamily Apocynoideae of the dogbane family Apocynaceae and is cultivated worldwide in temperate and subtropical areas as an ornamental and landscaping plant. Oleander (Nerium oleander) is a fast-growing evergreen shrub that's hardy and fairly low-maintenance. For this reason gardeners are advised to prune mature shrubs in the autumn to shape and induce lush new growth and flowering for the following spring. Nerium obesum) single flower, Adenium obesum var. Cuttings may be taken in late summer. However, container plants seem to do best in fertile soils with good drainage. It holds up well as a street planting. Desai, Umesh R. Cardiac glycosides. Plant Family: Apocynads (Apocynoideae) 2. Where is this species invasive in the US. May be trained as a standard. [32] Once they are dormant they require little light and only occasional watering. $22.50$22.50. Container plant for sunny decks, patios and other locations around the home. If necessary, cut back dead, weak or frost-damaged stems to approximately 20cm above the ground, pruning to just above a set of leaves in early spring. Retrieved on 2009-07-27. These plants are adaptable to a variety of soils, and they flourish in heat and full sun while also being drought-tolerant. Their action is derived from inhibition of the plasmalemma (cell membrane) Na + /K + -ATPase. The plant is tolerant of poor soils, intense heat, salt spray, and sustained drought – although it will flower and grow more vigorously with regular water. It's native to northern Africa and the eastern Mediterranean. The genus Nerium is a monotypic (just one species, Nerium oleander) evergreen shrub that is native to Asia, North Africa, and Europe. [15] Further medical attention may be required depending on the severity of the poisoning and symptoms. ", "History - International Oleander Society", "Paris côté jardin Archives de mots clés Laurier Rose", "Jardin: Prolongez vous vos vacances en plantant in laurier-rose", "Shedding Light on Growing Oleanders Indoors", "Blooming Oleanders of the American Collection", "Gardening : Nerium oleander : Petite oleanders: Evergreen drought-tolerant dwarf shrubs with showy flowers", "Effects of inotropic and arrhythmogenic digoxin doses and of digoxin-specific antibody on myocardial monovalent cation transport in the dog", "2 Toddlers Died from Oleander Poisoning, Coroner Says", "Dozens of horses poisoned at California farm", "A Bittersweet Story: The True Nature of the Laurel of the Oracle of Delphi", "Gustav Klimt, Two Girls With An Oleander". Die-back may cease during winter dormancy, but the disease flares up in summer heat while the shrub is actively growing, which allows the bacteria to spread through the xylem of the plant. This medium-sized evergreen shrub produces an abundance of large loose clusters of five-petaled, funnel-shaped, red flowers all summer. It is tolerant to both drought and inundation, but not to prolonged frost. Watch for mealybugs, aphids and scale. It is most commonly grown in its natural shrub form, but can be trained into a small tree with a single trunk. Erwin, Van den Enden. There is also a variegated form, 'Variegata', featuring leaves striped in yellow and white. [30] Several dwarf cultivars have also been developed, offering a more compact form and size for small spaces. Virginia Commonwealth University. [32] Hardy versions like white, red and pink oleander will tolerate occasional light frost down to −10 °C (14 °F),[16] though the leaves may be damaged. Several compounds in nerium exhibit toxicity, and it has historically been considered a poisonous plant. The leaves are in pairs or whorls of three, thick and leathery, dark-green, narrow lanceolate, 5–21 cm (2.0–8.3 in) long and 1–3.5 cm (0.39–1.38 in) broad, and with an entire margin filled with minute reticulate venation web typical of eudicots. Shrubs will form a mounded shape up to 10 feet wide. It produces fragrant, showy clusters of flowers from around May to October, coming in several color varieties. A digitoxin-like cardiac glycoside, oleandrin, is responsible for this plant’s toxicity. Prolonged contact with sap may cause skin irritation, eye inflamation and dermatitis. [45] Symptoms of a poisoned horse include severe diarrhea and abnormal heartbeat. Retrieved on 2009-07-27. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nerium&oldid=996006597, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2017, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2017, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2019, Taxonbars using multiple manual Wikidata items, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, "The Terrace at Méric (Oleanders)", an 1867 Impressionist painting by, "The Rehearsal of the Flute Player and the Wife of Diomedes in the Atrium of Prince Napoleon's Pompeian House in Paris" (1861) by, Oleanders were famously referenced by the band, Oleander was used as a poison to kill mice, on, In the late 6th century/early 7th century AD, Oleander is the official flower of the city of, This page was last edited on 24 December 2020, at 01:04. Nerieae: oleander 's closest relatives within Apocynaceae landscape applications including hedges, shrub borders and... 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