Greetings, human gardener. We are the Oleanders, the resilient and beautiful flowering shrubs you have chosen to welcome into your space. To ensure we thrive together with minimal effort on your part, we present this guide from our perspective. Understand our needs, and we will reward you with vibrant blooms and lush foliage for years to come.
First, please choose our home wisely. We crave abundant, direct sunlight—at least six to eight hours per day. This solar energy is the fuel for our prolific blooming. Plant us where we have ample room to grow; some of our varieties can reach over 12 feet in height and width. Our roots demand well-draining soil. We despise having our roots sit in constant moisture, which leads to a condition you call "root rot." If your native soil is heavy clay, please amend it with sand and compost to give us the loose, well-draining environment we need to establish a strong foundation.
Once established, we are incredibly drought-tolerant, a key to our low-maintenance nature. After the initial planting, water us deeply to help our root system settle in. For the first growing season, provide a deep watering once a week if rainfall is absent. After that, we prefer to be left alone. Our deep roots are excellent at seeking out moisture. You should only need to water us during periods of extreme, prolonged drought. The sign of overwatering is yellowing leaves—a clear distress signal from us to please let the soil dry out.
We are not heavy feeders. A single, annual application of a slow-release, balanced fertilizer (look for a formula with equal parts Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium, like a 10-10-10) in early spring is perfectly sufficient. This gives us the nutrients we need to support a full season of vigorous growth and spectacular flowering. Over-fertilizing, especially with high-nitrogen formulas, will encourage excessive leafy growth at the expense of our beautiful blooms.
The best time to prune us is after our main spring flush of blooms begins to fade, typically in late spring or early summer. We set our flower buds on new growth, so pruning at this time encourages a second wave of blossoms. You may use sharp, clean shears to remove any dead or damaged branches, shape our form, and control our size. Please note: every part of our being is toxic if ingested. It is advisable for you to wear gloves and long sleeves while handling our clippings to avoid skin irritation.
This is our primary defense mechanism in the wild. Our leaves, stems, flowers, and sap contain potent compounds that are harmful if ingested by humans, dogs, cats, or horses. This is not a reason to fear us, but rather to respect us. Simply plant us in areas away from where curious children or pets play. Do not burn our clippings, as the smoke can be irritating. After any interaction with us, especially pruning, wash your hands thoroughly. With this simple awareness, we can coexist safely and beautifully.
