Scientific Name: Nerium oleander

Family: Apocynaceae

Common Name: Oleander

Hindi Name: Kaner कनेर

Description:Beautiful blossoms, of fragrant pink flowers in bunches, at the tip of branchlets rendering an eye-catching sight that is 'Oleander'. A native of India and China, it is now widely grown in tropical and subtropical gardens, parks, avenues, and is popular for its hue and fragrance. It rises up to 3 meters erect with its short branches and dark dusty green leathery narrow leaves, which grow in whorls. They are narrow lancelike, 5-21 cm long and 1-3.5 cm broad, with an entire margin. The flowers grow in clusters at the end of each branch; they are white, pink or yellow, 2.5-5 cm diameter, with 5 petals fringed at the base. They are often, but not always, sweetly scented. The fruit is a long narrow capsule 5-23 cm long, which splits open at maturity to release numerous downy seeds. The plants are almost free from pests and diseases and untouched by cattle and goats, due to their toxicity. In India they are thus the most favoured plants for the road dividers, where a plant has to withstand heat and dust, and little water. There are single and double forms in white, pink and red. Several other cultivars have been developed - once example is a popular variety called 'Petit Salmon' which is a dwarf that grows to only 4 ft (1.2 m).

Economic Importance:Oleander is mainly grown for its ornamental value, as it produces showy, fragrant flowers in shades of pink, red, white, and yellow. It is used in landscaping and gardening to create hedges, borders, and as a specimen plant.

The toxic compounds in oleander make it an effective natural insecticide.

Oleander wood is dense and durable, making it suitable for use in furniture, tool handles, and other wooden objects.

Medicinal Importance: Oleander contains several toxic compounds, including cardiac glycosides, which can be used to treat heart conditions such as congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, and high blood pressure. These compounds have also been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments, including cancer.

Cultural Importance: Oleander has been featured in many works of art and literature throughout history. For example, the French painter Henri Matisse often included oleander in his paintings, and the poet Federico García Lorca wrote a famous poem titled "La Casa de la Pradera" which features oleanders.

Religious Importance: In some cultures, oleander is considered a sacred plant and is used in religious rituals. For example, in Hinduism, oleander is associated with the goddess Durga and is used in puja (worship) ceremonies.