Does Oleander Grow in Kentucky?

Climate

• Oleander has flowers in several colors, including red, peach, yellow and white, depending on the variety. A fast-growing plant that can reach a height of 20 feet at maturity, oleander can be trimmed and shaped to keep its height at 6 to 10 feet, with a mounded shape that becomes about 10 feet wide. Generally able to withstand short periods of subfreezing temperatures down to about 15 or 20 degrees Fahrenheit, it grows year-round outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plant hardiness zones 8 through 10. Although Kentucky encompasses USDA zones 6a through 7a, which can experience severe cold temperatures during winter, several strategies can help the shrub grow outdoors in that state.

Cold Protection Outdoors

• In central and northern Kentucky, USDA zones 6a and 6b, winter temperatures can drop to 0 to minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit. An oleander shrub planted outdoors that experiences 0 degrees for a short period is likely to lose foliage and branches, possibly dying to the ground, but its roots can survive the exposure and regrow in spring. Survival is especially likely if the plant is sited in a relatively warm spot, such as near the west- or south-facing wall of a building or on a hillside where cold air drains away down the slope. Mulching the plant with a 3- to 6-inch-thick layer of mulch also can help the plant's roots survive winter's cold.

Potted Plant Indoors for Winter

• Common oleander does well when grown in a large pot and is also available as a dwarf plant that's especially useful for container growing. For example, the cultivar "Petit Salmon" (Nerium oleander "Petit Salmon") becomes only 4 feet tall when mature. A potted oleander can be kept outdoors in spring, summer and early fall. A spot that receives bright sunlight results in the plant's best growth and flowering. The plant can tolerate some shade but may grow more slowly than normal and have fewer blooms under those conditions. In late fall, the potted plant can be moved indoors to a cool, indirectly lit spot 1 or 2 feet from a south- or west-facing window. Watch for aphids or spider mites on an oleander growing indoors because those pests tend to thrive in dry, indoor air. Spraying the plant with insecticidal soap, diluted at a rate of 5 tablespoons per 1 gallon of water, can control the pests.

Other Care

• Oleander is an extremely adaptable plant that tolerates both dry and wet conditions well. Its growth is best when it is given regular, even amounts of water, although watering should be reduced in winter to give the plant a rest. Oleander tends to become leggy, especially when grown in partial shade, but it responds well to regular trimming that stimulates new, bushy growth. Prune the plant in late summer, after its flowering ends.

  All parts of the oleander plant are toxic and can cause illness. So the plant should be sited in an area not frequented by pets or small children.