Xeriscape Landscaping Plants For The Arizona Desert Environment
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Shrubs

Oleander, Nerium oleander

Oleander, Nerium oleander

Oleander, Nerium oleander	Oleander, Nerium oleander

Oleander Nerium oleander, Dogbane Family: ( Apocynaceae ), Oleander. Also called: Justicia california. This is a very popular landscaping plant in arizona and it is considered an evergreen shrub or small tree. Nerium oleander is used for screens, informal hedges, colorful accents, and cityscapes. By removing the suckers and leaving just a few stems an oleander bush can be trained into a very attractive small tree. Multi - colored oleander line the freeways of lower elevations in Arizona which provide commuters a soothing green display to enjoy while driving through the larger cities. The oleander is a tough durable shrub that is inexpensive and easy to grow in most situations. Abundant, beautiful flowers are produced in many colors and some varieties are delightfully fragrant. New homeowners appreciate oleander's satisfyingly fast growth rate and ability to quickly green up a bare lot. All parts of oleander are poisonous. Height: Evergreen bush slowly growing to about 3 to 20 feet tall and 3 to 12 feet wide. Flowers: The flowers are o terminal clusters, they can be yellow, white, pink, or red; they may be single or double; they bloom in the spring and throughout the summer. There is some bloom in the winter. Blooming Time: Mid January - December. Fruit: 3 - 5 inch long pods, they are green ripening to brown, they split when dry releasing airborne seed. Leaves: The leaves are simple, linear, 3 - 12 inches long, they are whorled around the stem, glossy dark green on the top and lighter underneath with a prominent mid - rib. Stems/Trunks: They are gray, extremely tough, and can be trained or pruned as desired. Poisonous. Found: Found throughout lower elevations in Arizona. Elevation: 0 - 2500 Feet. Habitat: Alkaline, well-drained/light soils. An ideal landscape plant in Arizona. Native to Northern Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean basin and Southeast Asia.. Miscellaneous: Flowering Photos Taken April 1, 2006. Glendale.