Oleander is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 8 through 10, shrugs off deer and shrugs off dry spells. Its summer flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees and butterflies.
Oleander — the short answer
Oleander: grown in zones 8–10, full sun, pH 5.5–7.8.
- USDA zones
- 8–10
- Hardy to zone 8a — NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.
- Soil pH
- 5.5–7.8
- USDA NRCS PLANTS Database
- Sun
- Full Sun
- Converted from New Mexico Office of the State Engineer and NMSU (New Mexico conditions)
Plant data: Growable Ground Plant Database, compiled from FAO ECOCROP, USDA PLANTS and university Extension sources — each tile names its own row's source, because per-field provenance varies.
Score Oleander on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether oleander actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score oleander against your land's real conditions.
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
No card required · your parcel report in seconds — read in full free for your first 14 days
What Oleander is
Oleander grows as a perennial and reaches around twelve feet at maturity. It blooms red in summer. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Oleander
Oleander grows in USDA zones 8 through 10. Oleander does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 7.8.
USDA Zones
8-10
Rated hardy to zone 8a by NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, checked Oct 2026. Ceiling: not verified.
Soil pH
5.5 - 7.8
USDA NRCS PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
Converted from New Mexico Office of the State Engineer and NMSU (New Mexico conditions)
Drainage
Data pending
Mature Height
12 ft
USDA NRCS PLANTS Database
Plant it right
Set oleander in full sun.
Match the soil
Oleander prefers pH 5.5 to 7.8 (USDA NRCS PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water while it roots in
Water deeply while oleander establishes, letting the soil dry between soakings; once its roots are in, it rides out dry spells on its own.
Shape it while it is young
Prune oleander only to remove dead, damaged or crossing branches while it is young; it is grown for its form, not a harvest, so little more is needed once it settles in.
Where Oleander thrives
Oleander is hardy across USDA zones 8 through 10. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
A USDA zone is a 10°F band of average annual extreme winter minimum, so zones 8–10 spans average winter lows from 10°F to 40°F (USDA PHZM 2023). Across the 50 states and DC, that band covers 1 outright and splits 27 more down the middle — and which side of that line your land sits on changes the answer.
Zones 8–10·Where Oleander growsOpen map →
This map is derived from the USDA ARS / PRISM Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) and is not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
Where Oleander stands, state by state
Oleander is rated for zones 8–10 — a cold floor USDA puts at 10 to 20°F. Across the 50 states and DC, 1 sits fully inside that band, the line runs through 27 more, and 23 sit outside it — and inside every split state, the same line runs on at county grain.
The line runs through
27 states
- Alaska · zones 1a-9a
- Idaho · zones 3b-8a
- California · zones 4b-11a
3 of 27 shown
Oleander’s band covers part of each of these states — which side of the line your county sits on changes the answer, and each state page draws it.
State zone extents: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PHZM) 2023. A zone is a 10°F band of average annual extreme minimum temperature, so a state that splits the band contains the boundary — its own page draws the county line, and a parcel report resolves which side your land sits on.
What grows around Oleander
Growing guides for oleander
Related plants in shrub
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — oleander is toxic to dogs, cats and horses (lethal severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; U.S. FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, which lists this plant as potentially dangerous to pets.)
Oleander offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.
Your land is one point inside Oleander's range
This page resolves to the species. Your state page draws the county line, and a report reads the parcel — the soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost dates on your exact ground, which no species average can see.
See if Oleander will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether oleander actually takes. We score it against the mapped and modelled conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
How we know this about Oleander
The figures above are cited per row, not per site: the pH band names this plant’s own source column, the three temperature figures each carry their own, and days-to-maturity cites the publication that actually lists it. All of it comes from the Growable Ground Plant Database — a compilation over FAO ECOCROP, USDA PLANTS, and university Extension sources, published openly with per-field provenance.
Grounded inUSDA PLANTS Database
Frequently asked questions
Can I grow Oleander in my zone?
Oleander grows in USDA hardiness zones 8 through 10 (Rated hardy to zone 8a by NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, checked Oct 2026. Ceiling: not verified.). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Oleander?
Set oleander out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Oleander need?
Oleander needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Oleander need?
Oleander prefers soil pH 5.5 to 7.8 (USDA NRCS PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's mapped soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Oleander attract pollinators?
Yes — oleander's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees and butterflies. We haven't confirmed this against a published source yet.
Is Oleander safe for pets?
Oleander is toxic to dogs, cats and horses with lethal severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; U.S. FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, which lists this plant as potentially dangerous to pets.)
Keep exploring Oleander
Oleander state by state
Every state oleander's zone reaches — 17 link straight to that state's oleander growing page; the rest open the state's full growing guide.