How to Trim and Prune an Oleander

Oleanders (Nerium oleander L.) are large flowering evergreen shrubs native to Mediterranean Europe and Asia. Named for their leaf shape, which is olive-like (“oleandra” in Greek), oleanders are hardy to USDA hardiness zone 8 and are widely grown in Florida, along the Gulf Coast and in California. Fast growing and sometimes massive--they can grow to 20 feet tall and wide--oleanders tolerate acidic to very alkaline soils, and clay, sandy and even salty soils. They can be trained as single-trunked trees, but generally are pruned to follow a more natural fountain-like form.

Loppers
Anvil-style hand pruners

Instructions

- 1
  Prune oleanders in early spring, before they flower on new wood. They can tolerate very severe pruning if heavily damaged during winter, but in general a lighter, more selective thinning will preserve shrub size and form. Severe pruning encourages too much vegetative growth and fewer flowers.
- 2
  Remove dead wood and any damaged or diseased stems. Remove suckers and water sprouts that shoot up from oleander roots and lower sections of stems. Too many suckers--especially on young plants--will use up plant energy that would otherwise produce flowers.
- 3
  Promote flowering by trimming the ends of stems, which will encourage branching and more blooms. Stimulate continued blooming throughout the summer by trimming spent flower clusters and stem tips.
- 4
  Rejuvenate an overgrown shrub over several years. Remove one-third of thick older stems the first year, cutting them back to within 12 inches of the ground. Remove one-half of the mature stems remaining the second year. Also head back new shoots to stimulate branching. Repeat both steps during the final year.
- 5
  Watch dwarf oleander cultivars, usually grown as ground covers, for occasional tall shoots. Immediately remove these. Also remove shoots that die back during the growing season, which sometimes happens with dwarf and miniature varieties.

Fruit-Bearing Shrubs

What Kills Oleander Bushes?

Shrubs