Needs of an Oleander Tree

Sun and Warmth

• Oleanders need full sun to produce an abundance of cheerful, colorful flowers. Without enough light, flowers wilt or may not develop at all. If you started the oleander in shade and are preparing to transplant it, get the plant used to strong light by setting it outside for 45 minutes per day for one week. Putting it in full sun immediately can shock the plant if it was previously grown in shade. Oleanders also need warmth to thrive; they do best in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 8 through 10.

Watering

• Mature oleanders are fairly drought tolerant, but they do best when watered regularly. If not watered during a drought, the oleander stops putting out flowers and may not grow at all. Provide up to 2 inches of water per week if it does not rain during the week, especially during the hot summer. If you keep your oleander in a container, it needs even more water. Set the container in a tray of water during hot summer days to meet the plant's water requirements.

Pruning

• Pruning your oleander allows you to control its shape, and it also prompts the plant to grow new branches and flowers. If you wish to prune your oleander, cut off branches at the plant's leaf nodes in early or late fall. Rejuvenation pruning, which occurs over a three-year period, is another option. For this method, cut back only a portion of the plant's old branches each year instead of cutting them off all at once. This is much less stressful for the oleander.

Fertilizer and Nutrients

• Mature oleanders, if planted in your yard, usually do not need extra fertilizer. This is especially true if you apply fertilizer to your lawn, since oleanders will draw nutrients from that source. If you do not fertilize the lawn and you want to provide supplemental nutrition for the oleander, use one application of fertilizer in the spring and fall. Your oleander will also need fertilizer if you grow it in a container.