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ShrubsConservatory Greenhouse

Nerium oleander red-flowered

oleander red-flowered

A half-hardy evergreen shrub, up to 6m high, with an upright to spreading habit and lance-shaped green leaves to 20cm long. Open clusters of red flowers are produced in summer

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Ultimate height

4–8 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

2.5–4 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Drought resistance

Yes

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Apocynaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: TOXIC if eaten, smoke from burning is harmful. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling TOXIC to pets if eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Nerium are evergreen shrubs with linear or narrowly oblong leaves and terminal clusters of salver- or funnel-shaped flowers, followed by long, bean-like seed-pods
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Outdoors, grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Where winters are not reliably mild, grow under glass in peat-free, loam-based potting compost in full light; ventilate well. During growth, water moderately and apply a balanced liquid feed monthly. Water sparingly in winter

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in summer; sow seed at 16°C in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Patio and container plants
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

See pruning group 9; will tolerate hard pruning if necessary to restrict size

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects, mealybugs and red spider mite under glass

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)

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