Oleander care — light, water, toxicity and hardiness
Oleander (Nerium oleander) wants full sun and a drink about every 10 days once established. It is hardy in USDA zones 8 to 11. It is toxic to pets — worth keeping out of reach.
| scientific name | Nerium oleander |
|---|---|
| family | Apocynaceae |
| category | shrub |
| plant type | perennial |
| light | full sun |
| water cadence days | 10 |
| min zone | 8 |
| max zone | 11 |
| frost tolerant | false |
| toxic to pets | true |
| toxic to humans | true |
| edible | false |
How often should I water Oleander?
Drought-tolerant once established.
Is Oleander toxic?
One of the most toxic garden plants — every part is dangerous to pets and people, and even smoke from burning it is hazardous.
Who eats it
Palatable to people: no. USDA records its toxicity as moderate.
What it needs
Its shade tolerance is high. Its moisture use is low. Its drought tolerance is high. It wants at least about 14 inches of rain a year. Above roughly 60 inches of annual rain it struggles. It tolerates soil down to pH 5.5. It tolerates soil up to pH 7.8. Its fertility requirement is low. Adapted to coarse, sandy soils: yes. Adapted to medium, loamy soils: yes. Adapted to fine, clay soils: yes. It needs at least 230 frost-free days. Its salt tolerance is high. Its tolerance of chalky soil is low. Its fire tolerance is high. Fire resistant: yes. It has been recorded down to 14°F. It suppresses neighbours chemically: no.
How it grows
It grows as a multiple stem form. Its growth rate is rapid. Its lifespan is moderate. It puts on most of its growth in spring, summer, fall. It spreads by seed at a slow rate. It resprouts after damage: yes. Coppices: yes. Its tolerance of hedging is high. At maturity it reaches about 12.0 feet. By twenty years it is about 12 feet. Its roots go down at least 16 inches. Its shape is erect. It holds its leaves through winter: yes.
What it looks like
It blooms in summer. The flowers are red. Conspicuous in flower: yes. The foliage is green. The foliage texture is coarse. In summer the canopy is dense in porosity. In winter it is dense in porosity. Fall colour: yes. The fruit or seed is brown. Fruit begins in summer. Fruit finishes by fall. It fruits medium. The fruit persists on the plant: no. The fruit is conspicuous: no.
Growing more of it
Propagated by seed: yes. Propagated by cuttings: yes. Propagated by container: yes. Propagated by bare root: yes. Propagated by bulb: no. Propagated by corm: no. Propagated by tubers: no. Cold stratification required: no. Seedling vigour is low. Commercial availability: routinely available.
Source: USDA PLANTS Database; US Cooperative Extension horticulture publications · ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List · 2026-09-02