Oleander 'Mrs F. Roeding'

An abundance of perfumed, double blooms in all the shades of the sunset; salmon, yellow, orange and pink. Multi branched from the base and fast to grow. A tried and true heritage variety that is over a hundred years old and loved across the world.

If you have no time to garden but demand a lot of what you grow, this plant won’t disappoint. It is a great choice for a changing climate as it has evolved for droughts and flooding rains. It does like to be beside the seaside and it is popular in urban plantings too.

Making a come back with all new breeding, these cast iron shrubs establish quickly and flower for an age. They are tolerant of frost, dry, humidity, wind and a whole gamut of soil conditions, from sandy to moist clay. They are a cinch to grow and care for and can last a lifetime. Their evergreen growth is useful as a specimen, as part of a shrubby border, hedging, screening or even in large pots.

The flowers form at the ends of the branches and last well. The leaves unfurl a bright to mid green and age to deeper shades.

Plant in moderately fertile to humus rich soils in a sunny position. They will tolerate light shade, especially in warmer climates. Water in well, and keep the moisture up for the first four to six weeks, until the roots have had time to establish and begin to penetrate the surrounding soil. A light application of fertiliser in spring while they establish is all you need do.

Sure, Oleander has a poisonous reputation, but if you’ve ever dared put a leaf in your mouth you would immediately spit it out, they are horribly bitter so you are unlikely to do it again!