Buying oleanders: tips on buying & sources of supply

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In order to be able to enjoy it for a longer period of time, it is better to look twice at the oleander. We show what you should consider when buying oleanders.

oleander bush
The magnificent oleander bushes bring a Mediterranean flair to your garden [Photo: Botond Horvath/ Shutterstock.com]

Although only one kind of oleander (Nerium oleander) exists, but there are many varieties. While the flower colors vary between white, pink, red and light yellow, the growth forms are all the more different.

Buying a beautiful oleander plant can't be that difficult, can it? It is important that you pay attention to the health of the plant. There is also a large selection in terms of growth and flower shape. And last but not least, there are also different flower colors.

Buying oleanders: You should pay attention to this

It is essential when buying your oleander that you give it sufficient attention Diseases or pests examine towards. Particularly scale insects or spider mites are easy to overlook but can become a nuisance. In addition, commercially available oleander plants are often treated with so-called growth regulators, which reduces their growth and makes them appear more compact. However, this effect quickly wears off at home. So don't let the impression fool you.

The most important criterion for choosing a suitable oleander should still be the growth habit, because there are dwarf, shrubby or even tall varieties. Of course, the robustness of the variety to diseases and pests is also important. Since the growing conditions for oleanders in Germany and Austria are not ideal, it makes sense to use a more robust variety. Slow-growing varieties can also be an advantage if you don't want to constantly cut back your oleander.

blooming oleander
A yellow-flowering variety with double flowers, i.e. a particularly large number of petals [Photo: Ellita/ Shutterstock.com]

Another criterion is of course the flowers, which are filled or unfilled. However, oleanders with double flowers often do not lose them on their own and are therefore more susceptible to gray mold. The flower color of oleander can be very different. The wild form is pink, but there are also white or red flowering oleanders. Even light yellow varieties are available on the market.

The most important decision criteria when buying an oleander:

  • Choosing a healthy plant free from diseases and pests
  • Don't let the compact impression fool you; the effect of growth regulators wears off quickly
  • Selection primarily based on growth habit
  • Choose a hardy variety
  • Slow-growing varieties need pruning less often
  • There are oleanders with filled and unfilled flowers, here the personal taste decides

Buy oleanders: Recommended sources of supply

You should choose the right source of supply for an oleander carefully. Plants raised with care are healthier and more resilient. Many of the oleander plants offered in this country come from southern Europe, where they find optimal growth conditions. After being imported to Germany and Austria, however, they could become vulnerable.

Blossom of the oleander
The original form of the oleander has single flowers, making it more bee-friendly [Photo: Anna Brothankova/ Shutterstock.com]
  • the Nursery Königsgütler from Hallertau in Upper Bavaria sells small as well as larger oleanders - as desired. She has around 50 varieties on offer that are grown on site. Unfortunately, the nursery has stopped shipping, but offers an adventure garden not far from Autobahn 9.
  • A wide range of different types of oleander can be found at oleandershop24.de, the online shop of the Oleanderhof in Nunsdorf near Berlin. There is also a farm shop there. Most of the oleanders here come from southern France or Sicily. However, they are treated with growth-inhibiting agents. The compact impression that the plants make will quickly dissipate.