Common Oleander

Nerium oleander

Frequently cultivated, especially on barrier islands (because of its salt resistance), sometimes persistent or weakly naturalizing. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you

—

Not native

Not native to Alabama. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 76%

Height: 5–19.5 feet
Spread: 6–10 feet
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Somewhat dry to moist

See native alternatives

No photograph yet. Looking for an old drawing…

Plant this instead

Your county

Choose your county to list local plants first.

Carolina Laurel Cherry
Prunus caroliniana
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to wet. Flowers: White.
Similar growth form, evergreen or deciduous, light
Yaupon Holly
Ilex vomitoria
Sun: Deep shade, Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Green or white.
Similar growth form, height, spread
Dahoon Holly
Ilex cassine
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Moist to standing water. Flowers: Yellow or white.
Similar growth form, evergreen or deciduous, bloom season

Refine these alternatives in the finder

Check a whole list of plants

At a glance

Life cycle: Woody perennial
Leaves: Evergreen
Bloom: April to July
Fruiting season: Summer to fall

JFMAMJJASOND

Recorded in 6 Alabama counties.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

7CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AL

Genus host records with ranges including AL · Nerium

Agathodes monstralisSky-Pointing Moth
Anatrachyntis badiaFlorida Pink Scavanger Caterpillar
Danaus gilippusQueen
Estigmene acreaSalt Marsh Moth, Acrea Moth
Spodoptera eridaniaSouthern Armyworm Moth
Spodoptera latifasciaOrange-Striped Armyworm, Velvet Armyworm Moth
Syntomeida epilaisPolka-Dot Wasp Moth, Oleander Caterpillar

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Apocynaceae
Hardiness: Zones 8a–10b
Flower color: Cream, yellow, orange, pink or white
Growth rate: Rapid
Growth habit: Several stems
Foliage color: Green
Fruit begins: Summer
Fruit ends: Fall

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “April to July” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Cream, yellow, orange, pink or white” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “Summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit ends · “Fall” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth habit · “Several stems” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Rapid” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Hardiness · “Zones 8a–10b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “5–19.5 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
Leaves · “Evergreen” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Moist; Occasionally dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “6–10 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Conservation status

Alabama rank	SNA
Global rank	GNR
AL status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source