Growing Oleander in Your Houston, Texas Garden

Oleander shrubs are a great choice when it comes to plants for your Houston, Texas garden. They are drought resistant, fast growing, don't really require much pruning, and bloom in beautiful colors, many with lovely fragrances. Certain (but not all) types of Oleander shrubs are also very cold tolerant, and Oleander makes a terrific privacy screen. If smaller shrubs are more your type, Oleander also comes in dwarf varieties. Think that Oleander might be what you are looking for in your Houston, Texas garden? See below for varieties that do well here in Houston, Texas, as well as planting tips. (Overall, Oleander do very well in Houston, Texas, although the dwarf varieties are not as drought tolerant.)

General tips. Oleander shrubs do best when planted in full sun, in soil that has good drainage. Plant them in either the spring or the fall, and they will bloom from April all the way through October. Oleander shrubs can reach heights of up to fifteen feet, and widths of up to twelve feet. In addition to being great privacy screens, they are also good to use as windbreaks for your Houston, Texas garden. They bloom in showy clusters of red, pink and white. Please be aware that the sap of Oleander is poisonous if ingested, so keep pets and small children away. Do not compost Oleander cuttings when you prune, or burn them (the fumes can also be toxic.) The best time to prune Oleander is in the early spring, around February, when you can either trim them into a tree-shape or cut them to make them bushier. As far as pests and diseases, Oleander are susceptible to aphids, scale and caterpillar. Oleander shrubs that will do well in your Houston, Texas garden include the following:

Calypso. Calypso Oleander does very well in a Houston, Texas garden, tolerating drought, heat and humidity very well. This pretty shrub has showy red flowers that last for a long time. Plant them in full sun to partial shade in your Houston, Texas garden, and they will bloom from mid summer to early fall.

Franklin D. Roosevelt. This unique Oleander has lovely salmon colored flowers that will turn to copper during mid-summer. Plant them in full sun in your Houston, Texas garden to add a beautiful touch of color. These shrubs thrive in the heat and humidity of a Houston summer.

Morocco. This Oleander has beautiful white flowers that will bloom all year in your Houston, Texas garden, with the most profuse blossoming from December through June. Plant them in full sun in well drained soil. These shrubs are very drought tolerant and overall are very hardy shrubs, good for tough spots in your Houston, Texas garden.

Ruby Lace. If you are looking for shrubs with beautiful red flowers, try planting this variety of Oleander in your Houston, Texas garden. It will bloom from June through September with fragrant, long lasting flowers. Plant these shrubs, which are tolerant of heat and humidity, and very drought tolerant, in full sun to partial shade in your Houston, Texas garden.

Source list:

Personal experience

http://www.oleander.org

http://herselfhoustongarden.com

http://www.chron.com/apps/chron_data/plants.mpl

http://www.backyardgardener.com

http://www.learn2grow.com