Oleander

The Oleander is native to southern Asia and the Mediterranean. All parts of the plant are extremely toxic and can poison animals and humans. Other names for this plant include: Adelfa (Guam, Philippines), Wiliancher (Chuuk), Rusi (Fiji), Te orian (I-Kiribati), Lolie (Tonga), Kyochiku-to (Japan), Jia zhu tao (China), Selonsroos (Africa) and Karavira (India).

The Oleander is an evergreen shrub with a sticky, cream-colored sap. It can reach 6'- 20' in height and spread. The leaves are dark green and grow in whorls of 3-4. They are thin, lanceolate and about 8" in length with a prominent yellowish spine dividing the leaf. Oleander flowers are about 3/4" in diameter and soft to touch. They grow in clusters near the tips of the branches. The flowers are crepe-like with colors between salmon to lavender, white or yellow. Flower petals run from 1" in length to being double with 2 or more whorls. Stems have nodes with two or three narrow, elliptic leaves with smooth margins. Hawai'i Oleander does not often fruit into long, narrow pods.

Oleander grows well in drought, salt and windy climates.

Traditional Cultural and Medicinal Uses

• Various parts of the plant have been used in folklore to treat ringworm, herpes, hemorrhoids, and other external skin conditions