Chinese Oleander Plant Care

Chinese Oleander (Nerium chinense) belongs to the Apocynaceae family within the Nerium genus. Chinese Oleander is native to southern China and northern Vietnam. Chinese Oleander is also known as Oleander.

Chinese Oleander displays an upright, branching shrub growth habit, reaching up to 6 ft tall with a spread of approximately 4 ft. Chinese Oleander produces showy clusters of tubular flowers in various colors like pink, white, or red.

Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Chinese Oleander every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Chinese Oleander thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Nerium chinense tolerates temperatures of 50–90°F. Chinese Oleander prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining sandy soil mix with added perlite for improved drainage. Good drainage is essential for Chinese Oleander to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Chinese Oleander every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy soil mix with added perlite for improved drainage. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Chinese Oleander is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Chinese Oleander can spread to about 4 ft (1.2 m) and reach about 6 ft (2 m) tall. Space plants about 4 ft (1.2 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Chinese Oleander while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Chinese Oleander is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Chinese Oleander can be propagated through stem cuttings, air layering. Similar propagation techniques also apply to oleander plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Chinese Oleander is susceptible to aphids, scale insects, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Chinese Oleander grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Chinese Oleander is native to southern China and northern Vietnam. In cooler regions, grow Chinese Oleander as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.