Oleander, Nerium oleander

This evergreen

perennial shrub can become up to 6 m (20 ft) tall, forming a rounded mound to about 3m (10 ft) wide. It is a tough, versatile plant, with showy, fragrant summertime flowers in white; red; pink (such as the one depicted above); salmon; and light yellow. It is frequently seen growing in hedgerows and along highways and roads. Leathery, lance shaped leaves range from about 10 – 25 cm (4 – 10 in) long, depending on variety, and are a bright green.

According to "Plants for a Future", the leaves and flowers are cardiotonic, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, expectorant and sternutatory. A decoction of the leaves has been applied externally in the treatment of scabies, and to reduce swellings.

This is a very poisonous plant, containing a powerful cardiac toxin, and should only be used with extreme caution. 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. An oil prepared from the root bark is used in the treatment of leprosy and skin diseases of a scaly nature. The whole plant is said to have anticancer properties.

The poisonous properties of the oleander have been well known for centuries. In fact, there are data relating to its having poisoned Napoleon’s troops, during one of their campaigns.

"Plants for a Future" also state that N. oleander has other uses. More specifically, the plant is used as a rat poison, a parasiticide and an insecticide, whilst a green dye can be obtained from the flowers. The leaves contain small amounts of latex that can be used to make rubber, however the amount is too small for commercial utilization. Finally, the plants have an extensive root system and are often used to stabilize soil in warmer areas, such as the Mediterranean countries.

Type of plant
Evergreen perennial shrub

Flowering Season
May - August

Known Hazards
All parts of the plant are extremely poisonous. According to "Plants for a Future", skin contact with the plant can cause irritation, whilst ingestion of only one leaf has led to death in children. Death has also been known to follow the use of the wood of this plant as a meat skewer.

Known Uses
As mentioned above, the plant has been used, inter alia, as a cardiotonic; diaphoretic; diuretic; emetic; expectorant; resolvent. "Plants for a Future" rate this plant 0 out of 5 for edibility and 2 out of 5 for medicinal use (min. 0, max. 5).

Habitat
Roadsides, stream and river banks, rocky places and gullies

Distribution
Throughout the Mediterranean region

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Taxonomy

Kingdom: Plantae (Plants); Subkingdom: Tracheobionta (Vascular plants); Superdivision: Spermatophyta (Seed plants); Division Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants); Class: Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons); Subclass: Asteridae; Order: Gentianales; Family: Apocynaceae (Dogbane family); Genus: Nerium; Species: oleander

Acknowledgments

Information on the plant's edible and medicinal uses was obtained from "Plants for a Future".