Pruning Oleanders

LeberKnodel

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Dec 29, 2001, 10:56:14 PM12/29/01

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Can anyone offer specific info on when and how to prune oleanders? Mine are
currently wintering inside my house.

Thanks so much and the best to all in the New Year.

Mary in NYC

Pam

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Dec 30, 2001, 7:34:34 AM12/30/01

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I doubt they will ever need much pruning. I attempted to grow oleanders in zone
8. They lived for about 5 years and never gained enough bulk to require pruning
before they finally succumbed to a hard winter. And only a couple of feeble
flowers in all that time. Pruning, if necessary, should be done after major
blooming fades - remove water shoots (suckers) and old flower clusters to
encourage heavier flowering. Be sure to dispose of cuttings carefully - all
parts of this plant are very toxic.

Pam - gardengal

Tom Jaszewski

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Dec 30, 2001, 11:31:51 AM12/30/01

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Please share any information I have missed on toxicity here. Do you
have any information...not anecdotal regarding poisonings by oleander?

Thanks,
Tom

Larry

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Dec 30, 2001, 12:42:27 PM12/30/01

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Tom Jaszewski wrote:

> Please share any information I have missed on toxicity here. Do you
> have any information...not anecdotal regarding poisonings by oleander?

http://helios.oit.unc.edu/herbmed/eclectic/kings/nerium-olea.html
http://planet-health.com/mhc/top/002884.cfm

The semi anecdotal:
This information came while in a class and the subject was toxins in
nature. I can not remember what the LD50 came out to be, but it was
pointed out that two leaves from the oleander can kill a 150 lb animal.
Another example/ news aricle had a story of five spending the night on
a beach, in which scrap wood and trimmings (that turned out to be
oleander) were used for the campfire. Three of the five died from the
toxins in the smoke.

Lar

Pam

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Dec 30, 2001, 2:15:55 PM12/30/01

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In addition to the two references listed below (the first is excellent and
quite detailed), I'd also offer the following:

http://www.vet.purdue.edu/depts/addl/toxic/plant52.htm
http://slosson.ucdavis.edu/pdf/95-98/downer96.pdf

Oleanders are frequently listed in most sources on poisonous plants as being
some of the most readily toxic substances.

Pam - gardengal

Jacqueline Davidson

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Dec 30, 2001, 8:27:31 PM12/30/01

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Wasn't it last year when two little boys died after eating leaves off an
oleander bush?
Jackie
"Pam" <grdn...@attbi.com> wrote in message
news:3C2F6876...@attbi.com...

Zhanataya

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Dec 31, 2001, 12:30:56 AM12/31/01

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On Sun, 30 Dec 2001 08:31:51 -0800, Tom Jaszewski <to...@xxxlvcm.com>
wrote:

>
>Please share any information I have missed on toxicity here. Do you
>have any information...not anecdotal regarding poisonings by oleander?
>
>Thanks,
>Tom

They contain a toxin known as Cardenolide Glycosides. The
International Oleander Society has a web site with the type
information you're looking for.

JK

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Dec 31, 2001, 1:56:43 AM12/31/01

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Ditto the IOS site on toxicity.
Here is the address:

http://oleander.org/toxicity.htm

Depending on the variety chosen they can be successfully sited here in
zone 8 in the NW and bloom well. Plant Delights carries a double
yellow that is even hardier than some of the other hardy varities and
is worth seeking out.

On Mon, 31 Dec 2001 05:30:56 GMT, Zhanataya <bill-...@home.com>
wrote: