Flora of New Zealand Series

oleander

Much-branched shrub to c. 4 m high. Lvs shortly petiolate; lamina 8-15 × 1-2.5 cm on flowering shoots, to c. 25 × 4 cm on vegetative suckering shoots, narrow-elliptic or linear-elliptic, coriaceous, puberulent beneath, especially in stomatal pits; lateral veins numerous, parallel and conspicuous below. Infl. puberulent, peduncles and pedicels reddish. Calyx 5-8 mm long, densely puberulent, reddish purple; lobes acuminate. Corolla 3.5-5 cm long, pink or rose, shining red in bud; tube ampliate; lobes 2.5-3 cm long, obovate, slightly asymmetric; corona deeply laciniate. Fls sometimes semi-double; single fls with densely pilose stamen awns c. 1 cm long. Frs uncommon, to c. 18 cm long.

N.: N. Auckland (Kaitaia and Mangonui areas), Auckland City; K.: Raoul.

Mediterranean region, S.W. Asia 1950

An occasional escape from cultivation in vicinity of gardens in the warmest parts of N.Z.

FL Nov-Mar.

Poisonous (Connor 1977).

Oleander is commonly cultivated. Vegetative layering may result in the formation of large thickets, and plants may also persist in abandoned gardens and so have the appearance of being wild. Seed is only formed when 2 or more cvs are grown together. Naturalised plants may represent several cvs; a common cv., that wild on Raoul, is `Monsieur Belaguier' with semi-double rose fls.