Nerium oleander

A hardy Mediterranean staple that produces a profusion of blooms from May to October in shades of pink, red, white and yellow. Its lush, evergreen foliage and long bloom time make it ideal for sun- drenched gardens and hedging. Highly toxic to humans and animals.

Nerium oleander is one of the most defining shrubs of the Mediterranean basin, native to the region and producing showy clusters of flowers — pink, red, white, salmon, yellow, double or single — from late spring through autumn, with the heaviest flush in May–June and a second strong wave in September. The lance-shaped grey-green evergreen leaves are leathery and salt-tolerant. Oleander is hardy to -8°C in mature specimens (recovering from severe frost damage in milder cuts) and remarkably tolerant of drought, salt spray, alkaline and poor soils, urban pollution and reflected heat — qualities that make it the dominant motorway median plant of Mediterranean countries. All parts are highly toxic if ingested.

Oleander reaches 2–4 m tall and as wide, forming a dense rounded shrub that can be grown as a free-standing specimen, a tall informal hedge, a flowering screen along property boundaries, or trained as a small tree with a clear trunk. The bright flowers and grey-green foliage combine beautifully with white-washed walls, terracotta pavements and the iconic Mediterranean palette. Plant in informal mixed borders with Bougainvillea, Plumbago auriculata, Lantana camara and Lavandula for a heat-loving summer composition. Cut back hard in late winter every 3–4 years to rejuvenate older shrubs; avoid planting near children's play areas, school grounds and grazing animals due to high toxicity.