We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Gardening

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Nerium?

By Casey Kennedy
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 10,179
Share

Nerium is the genus for the plant species Nerium oleander. It is a member of the Apocynaceae or dogbane family and is currently the only species classified in the Nerium genus. Nerium oleander is sometimes known as exile tree, rose laurel, or Huang Hua Jia. The most recognized name for this plant, however, is oleander.

An evergreen shrub that can grow as a small tree when trained, oleander grows from 3 to 20 feet (91.44 to 609.6 cm) in length and has a 3- to 12-foot (91.44 to 365.76 cm) spread. It has dark green, glossy leaves and produces single- to double-bloomed flowers in spring and throughout the summer. Blooms grow in clusters and come in shades of yellow, pink, white or red.

A native plant to northern Africa, the Mediterranean and Southeast Asia, oleander prefers a dry, warm climate, but does well in warm, humid areas as well. It is quite popular in the US state of Florida and along parts of the Gulf of Mexico coast. Oleander is recommended for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) hardiness zones 8 to 10. It is considered a hardy plant and will generally survive in temperatures as low as 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-9.4 to -6.7 Celsius). These cooler temperatures, however, may cause damage to the plant's foliage.

Oleander prefers full sun to partial shade. It can tolerate wet or dry soil as long as it has good drainage. Plants are considered drought-tolerant, but do better with supplemental watering during the hottest parts of the summer.

Useful as a border or privacy hedge, the oleander plant can also be used as a small-sized tree. To train, individuals should prune suckers back until only a few of the strongest stems remain. It can also be a suitable plant for a container garden.

Although used in many different landscape situations, all parts of the oleander plant contain the glycoside oleandrin, which makes the plant one of the most poisonous in the world. All parts of the plant are toxic. It should not be used where children play or in places where it may be ingested by pets.

Symptoms of oleander poisoning may include nausea, vomiting and severe abdominal pain. There may also be an increased heart rate, or the heart may even slow down. In some cases, victims may report a yellow halo effect in their vision. Severe poisoning can lead to cardiac arrest, and individuals should seek immediate emergency care if ingestion occurs.

Share
HomeQuestionsAnswered is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.homequestionsanswered.com/what-is-nerium.htm
Copy this link
HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.