Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Red Oleander Shrub
Red Oleander Shrub is an evergreen shrub with deep red flowers from spring into fall. It grows fast into a dense hedge or screen, usually 8 to 12 feet tall, and it takes full sun and reflected heat. Once rooted, it gets by on deep soaks in the warm months and little water in winter. Use it to screen a wall, a street or a property line.
Best for: privacy screens and hedges, west and south walls with reflected heat, and bold red color in low-water yards.
Plant about 4 to 6 feet apart for a hedge or screen, or about 4 feet apart to close in faster. It grows fast and stays green all year, with red flowers through the warm months.
It handles full sun and the reflected heat off block walls and driveways. Use it where softer shrubs scorch.
Deep red flowers open from spring into fall, heaviest from April to August.
Every part is poisonous to people and pets, so keep it away from play areas and pet runs. Oleander leaf scorch has no cure and can slowly kill a plant.
- Hedge or screen row4-6 ft apart
- Tighter screen4 ft apart
Water a new plant every day or two for the first two weeks in summer, easing to about once a week by the second month. Once rooted, give deep soaks from spring through fall for the most flowers. In winter it needs little or no extra water.
Prune in late February or in August, and expect fast regrowth. Wear gloves and long sleeves, since the sap can irritate skin.
Browning leaf edges that start on one branch in summer can be leaf scorch. Check that the soil is not dry or salty first. There is no cure, so remove a plant that keeps declining.
Every part of oleander is poisonous. Wear gloves when you prune, keep clippings away from pets and kids, and bag them for the trash instead of burning them.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
Is red oleander poisonous to pets?
Yes. Every part is poisonous to dogs, cats, horses and people, and the sap can irritate skin. Plant it away from pet runs and play areas, and wash your hands after pruning.
How big does a red oleander shrub get?
A full-size oleander shrub usually grows 8 to 12 feet tall and can reach 15 to 20 feet if you never cut it back. Prune it in late February or August to hold the height you want.
How far apart should I plant red oleander for a hedge?
Plant about 4 to 6 feet apart center to center for a hedge or screen. Use the closer spacing if you want it to fill in sooner. The Spacing tab on this page counts plants for your row.
When does oleander bloom in Phoenix?
Deep red flowers open from spring into fall, heaviest from April to August and at their peak around May. Keep it in full sun for the most flowers.
How much water does an oleander hedge need?
Water a new plant often for the first weeks, then taper to about weekly. Once rooted, give deep soaks from spring through fall and little or no water in winter.
Will oleander survive a freeze?
It is hardy to about 20°F. A hard freeze can burn leaves and tips, and the plant regrows quickly. Wait until late February to trim off the damage.
What does oleander leaf scorch look like?
Leaf edges yellow, then brown, often starting on one branch in summer. Check for dry or salty soil first. There is no cure, so remove a plant that keeps declining.
Will oleander grow in salty or poor soil?
Yes. It takes alkaline and salty soil better than most flowering shrubs. Plant it where water drains, and refill the hole with the soil you dug out.
Can I burn oleander clippings?
No. The smoke from burning oleander is toxic. Bag the clippings for the trash instead.
What is the difference between the oleander shrub and the oleander tree?
They are the same plant. The shrub grows as a full, many-stemmed bush for hedges and screens. The tree form is trained to one trunk, and its base suckers need regular removal.
Is oleander messy?
It can be. It drops a moderate amount of spent flowers and old leaves, so plan on some sweeping along a patio or pool.
Can oleander bother allergies?
Yes, it can. Its pollen can bother people with allergies.
Red Oleander Shrub for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Red oleander is the deep red form of the oleander grown all over the Valley for screens and hedges. It is fast, evergreen and heat tough. Below is what to expect for size, spacing, water, pruning, frost and safe handling.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
How tall does red oleander get in Phoenix?
A full-size oleander shrub usually grows 8 to 12 feet tall and wide enough to screen a wall. Left alone it can reach 15 to 20 feet. Prune in late February or August to hold it lower.
How far apart to plant red oleander for a hedge
Plant about 4 to 6 feet apart center to center for a hedge or screen. Closer spacing fills in faster. The Spacing tab on this page counts plants for your row.
How often to water an oleander hedge in Arizona
Once rooted, give it deep soaks from spring through fall and little or no water in winter. New plants need water often for the first few weeks.
Oleander for reflected heat
Oleander takes full sun and the reflected heat off walls and paving. Plant it along hot west walls and driveways where softer shrubs burn.
When does oleander bloom in the Valley?
Deep red flowers open from spring into fall. The heaviest bloom runs from April to August, peaking around May.
Is oleander poisonous to dogs and cats?
Yes. Every part is poisonous to pets and people. Plant it away from pet runs and play areas, and bag the clippings rather than burning them.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.