Home / Green Hopseed vs Oleander

Green Hopseed vs Oleander

The short answer

Both grow fast into an evergreen privacy screen and take full sun and reflected heat on low water. Oleander has pink, red or white flowers from spring into fall. Green Hopseed is a plain green screen, far less toxic, and a common oleander replacement in the Valley.

Side by side

	Green Hopseed	Oleander Shrub
Mature size	10 to 15 ft tall, 6 to 12 ft wide	Usually 8 to 12 ft tall, up to 15 to 20 ft if never cut back; 5 to 10 ft wide
Growth	Fast	Fast
Water once rooted	Low	Low
Sun	Full sun and reflected heat	Full sun and reflected heat
Cold hardy	About 15°F; leaves can get nipped in the low 20s	About 20°F; a hard freeze burns leaves and tips, then it regrows
Bloom	Small greenish flowers, then papery seed capsules in late summer and fall	Pink, red or white from spring into fall, heaviest April to August
Hedge spacing	3 to 5 ft apart	4 to 6 ft apart
Pets	Mildly toxic if a lot is eaten	Every part is poisonous to people and pets
Best use	Green screen on a fence line, block wall or pool area	Flowering screen along a back wall or property line

Choose Green Hopseed if...

You want a plain green screen.
Kids or pets spend time near the hedge. It is mildly toxic, while oleander is highly toxic.
You are replacing oleanders and want the same kind of dense, evergreen hedge.
The screen goes near a pool. It is thornless, drops little litter, and its roots are not known to be aggressive.

Choose Oleander if...

You want pink, red or white flowers on your screen.
The hedge runs along a back wall or property line, away from play areas and pet runs.
Your soil is salty or poor. Oleander takes alkaline and salty soil better than most flowering shrubs.
You want a taller screen. Left alone it can reach 15 to 20 feet.

Questions people ask

Is Green Hopseed a good oleander replacement?

Yes. Many Valley yards use it in place of oleander for a fast, low-water privacy screen. It has a similar upright habit and makes the same kind of dense, evergreen hedge.

Which one is safer around dogs and cats?

Green Hopseed. Every part of oleander is poisonous to dogs, cats, horses and people. Green Hopseed is mildly toxic, and a lot would need to be eaten to upset a stomach.

What is oleander leaf scorch?

It is a bacterial disease of oleander that has shown up in Phoenix neighborhoods. Leaf edges turn yellow, then brown, and the plant declines over a few years. There is no cure.

How far apart do I plant each one for a hedge?

Plant Green Hopseed 3 to 4 feet apart for a dense screen, or 4 to 5 feet for a standard hedge. Plant oleander about 4 to 6 feet apart, closer if you want it to fill in sooner.

Which one handles a freeze better?

Green Hopseed is cold hardy to about 15°F, though a freeze in the low 20s can nip the leaves. Oleander is hardy to about 20°F. Both regrow after frost damage.

Can I burn oleander clippings?

No. The smoke from burning oleander is toxic. Bag the clippings for the trash, and wear gloves when you prune, since the sap can irritate skin.