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.
Zones
8-10
pH Range
5.5-7.8
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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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.
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What Oleander is
Oleander grows as a perennial and reaches around 15 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. It needs about 0 hours of winter chill, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
8-10
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.5 - 7.8
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
Growable Ground plant catalog
Drainage
Data pending
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost Tolerance
14°F
The lowest temperature it shrugs off — below this, expect damage without cover.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Mature Height
15 ft
Growable Ground plant catalog
Chill Hours
0+
Winter hours below ~45°F it needs to fruit — too-mild winters can leave it bloom-shy.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost-Free Days
0+
The frost-free stretch it needs start to finish — short-season areas may need an indoor head start.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Plant it right
Set oleander in full sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Oleander prefers pH 5.5 to 7.8 (USDA PLANTS). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. Match watering to the plant's drainage preference and your local rainfall.
Be patient, then harvest
Prune annually while the tree establishes; fruit trees reward patience with years of harvest. Local Extension guides publish per-cultivar bearing-age tables.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — oleander is toxic to dogs and cats and horses (lethal severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Oleander offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators.
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.
Zones 8–10·Where Oleander growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Oleander can grow in these states:
See if Oleander will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether oleander actually takes — we score it against the real 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Oleander in my zone?
Oleander grows in USDA hardiness zones 8 through 10 (USDA PHZM 2023). 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. 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 PLANTS). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Oleander attract pollinators?
Yes — oleander's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees and butterflies.
Is Oleander safe for pets?
Oleander is toxic to pets (dogs,cats,horses) with lethal severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)