Nerium oleander
| Nerium oleander | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 13' |
| Width: | 13' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Mid Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Nerium oleander (common name: oleander)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[1]. Do not use seed from pods infected with the bacterial disease 'oleander knot'[1]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter before planting them out in early summer.
Cuttings of half-ripe side shoots, August/September in a frame. Good percentage[2].
Cuttings of mature leading shoots[3].
Cultivation: Prefers a heavy soil[4]. Prefers a light soil according to another report[5]. Requires a position in full sun[4][6]. Prefers a fertile well-drained soil[7]. Lime tolerant[7][5]. Plants are very tolerant of heat and also of drought once they are established[8]. Grows well in maritime gardens, tolerating salt-laden winds[7].
This species is not very hardy in Britain, though plants tolerate temperatures down to -5°c and short periods of temperatures down to -10°c[6][7][9]. A popular greenhouse pot plant that can be grown outdoors in the summer, it can be grown outdoors all year round in the milder areas such as Cornwall[3][9].
A very ornamental plant[3], there are many named varieties[7][9]. Plants are shy to flower when grown outdoors[4][10]. The flowers have a soft sweet perfume[11].
Range: S.W. Europe to E. Asia.
Habitat: River banks and river gravels in Europe[12].
Medicinal: The leaves and the flowers are cardiotonic, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, expectorant and sternutatory[13][14][15]. A decoction of the leaves has been applied externally in the treatment of scabies[13], and to reduce swellings[16]. This is a very poisonous plant, containing a powerful cardiac toxin[16], and should only be used with extreme caution[13][14].
The root is powerfully resolvent. Because of its poisonous nature it is only used externally. It is beaten into a paste with water and applied to chancres and ulcers on the penis[16].
An oil prepared from the root bark is used in the treatment of leprosy and skin diseases of a scaly nature[16].
The whole plant is said to have anticancer properties[15].
Usage: The plant is used as a rat poison[17], a parasiticide[13] and an insecticide[18]. The pounded leaves and bark are used as an insecticide[19].
A green dye is obtained from the flowers[20].
The plant is commonly used for informal hedging in the Mediterranean[21][7], though it is too tender for this use in Britain[K].
The leaves contain small amounts of latex that can be used to make rubber[22], though the amount is too small for commercial utilization[K].
The plants have an extensive root system and are often used to stabilize soil in warmer areas[23].
Soil: Can grow in medium and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Heavy Clay: Grows in heavy-clay soils.
Known Hazards: The whole plant is very poisonous[3][24][25]. Skin contact with the plant can cause irritation whilst ingestion of only one leaf has led to death in children[7][26]. Death has been known to follow the use of the wood of this plant as a meat skewer[7]
Also Known As: N. indica. N. odorum.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
- ↑ Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Arnold-Forster, William. Shrubs for the Milder Counties.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Davis, Brian. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking, 1990.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Taylor, Jane. The Milder Garden. Dent, 1990.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2. Pan Books, London, 1998.
- ↑ Thurston, Edgar. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall. Cambridge University Press, 1930.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Chiej, Roberto. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald, 1984.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Revolutionary Health Committee of Hunan Province. A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of Europe. Oxford University Press, 1969.
- ↑ Manandhar, Narayan. Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press, 2002.
- ↑ Grae, Ida. Nature's Colors. MacMillan Publishing, 1974.
- ↑ Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press, 1987.
- ↑ Vines, Robert. Trees of North Texas. University of Texas Press, 1982.
- ↑ Niebuhr, Alta. Herbs of Greece. Herb Society of America, 1970.
- ↑ Stary, Frantisek. Poisonous Plants. Hamlyn, 1983.
- ↑ Frohne, Dietrich and Hans Pfänder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Timber Press, 1984.
- ↑ Diggs, George and Barney Lipscomb. Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas. Botanical Research Institute, 1999.