Nerium oleander - Pink Nerium

Common name: Nerium Scientific name: Nerium oleander Other names: False oleander - Donkey's ear - Pink oleander Nerium is an evergreen shrub that reaches a height of between 2 to 3 meters. The shrub has a round or oval shape, with multiple branches and stems. The leaves are ovate and thick, with many branches and stems. It is a toxic plant that may pose a danger to children and animals. • Pink oleander flowers: Large pink flowers, found in scattered clusters, appear in summer. • Pink oleander fruit and seeds: Its fruit is a pod ranging from 12 cm to 18 cm in size, containing dark brown seeds inside. It is very toxic. • Propagation season for oleander: It is cultivated year-round, but it is preferred to plant it at the beginning of spring. • Suitable climate and soil for oleander: It is densely spread in the streets and gardens of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries, as it is one of the most heat-tolerant flowering plants. It also tolerates frost and severe cold. It requires direct sunlight and does not need much watering. It needs light, loamy soil with good drainage. • How to cultivate oleander: It reproduces by seeds, cuttings, or air layering. It is fertilized with organic fertilizers at least once. It can be cultivated throughout the year in agricultural shelters, enclosed or plastic places where temperature can be controlled and sunlight reaches, or where the plant receives adequate lighting. • Its benefits and uses: It is used for decoration in gardens, roads, and in landscaping as a barrier plant or a plant screen. This attractive plant can also be used for planting in parks, open public places, urban areas, and in flower beds. • Native habitat of oleander: The Mediterranean basin extending to China, and it is widely spread in Gulf countries.