Taxon:  Nerium oleander L.



Summary
Genus:
Nerium
Family:
Apocynaceae
Subfamily:
Apocynoideae
Tribe:
Wrightieae
Nomen number:
25229
Place of publication:
Sp. pl. 1:209.  1753
Verified:
01/24/2012 ARS Systematic Botanists.
Accessions:
11 (0  active, 0  available) in National Plant Germplasm System.  (Map it)
Other conspecific taxa
Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations
Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Nerium indicum Mill.
Nerium odorum Aiton

Images (1 total. Click on image for more.)
Seed

Conservation Status

Reference(s)
  1. University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
  2. Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
  3. Allan, H. H. B. et al. 1961-. Flora of New Zealand.
  4. APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
  5. Berhaut, J. 1971-. Flore illustrée du Senegal.
  6. Campbell, F. T., ed. 1995. Report of National Coalition of Exotic Plant Pest Councils (unpublished draft)
  7. Cooper, M. R. & A. W. Johnson. 1998. Poisonous plants and fungi in Britain: animal and human poisoning Note: poisonous
  8. Dassanayake, M. D. & F. R. Fosberg, eds. 1980-. A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon.
  9. Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
  10. Encke, F. et al. 1984. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 13. Auflage
  11. Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen
  12. Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
  13. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2010. Ecocrop (on-line resource).
  14. George, A. S., ed. 1980-. Flora of Australia.
  15. Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
  16. Ghazanfar, S. A. 1992. An annotated catalogue of the vascular plants of Oman. Scripta Botanica Belgica 2
  17. Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
  18. Grierson, A. J. C. & D. J. Long. 1984-. Flora of Bhutan including a record of plants from Sikkim.
  19. Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
  20. Hedberg, I. & S. Edwards. 1989-. Flora of Ethiopia Note: Eritrea added in 2000
  21. Henderson, L. 2001. Alien weeds and invasive plants: a complete guide to declared weeds and invaders in South Africa. Plant Protection Research Institute, Handbook 12
  22. Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
  23. Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
  24. Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry. Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER): plant threats to Pacific ecosystems (on-line resource).
  25. Kellerman, T. S. et al. 1988. Plant poisonings and mycotoxicoses of livestock in Southern Africa Note: poisonous
  26. Kingsbury, J. M. 1964. Poisonous plants of the United States and Canada. 264-266.
  27. Krüssmann, G. 1984. Manual of cultivated broad-leaved trees and shrubs (English translation of Handbuch der Laubgehölze. 1976)
  28. Lampe, K. F. & M. A. McCann. 1985. AMA handbook of poisonous and injurious plants Note: poisonous
  29. Lazarides, M. & B. Hince. 1993. CSIRO Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia
  30. León, B. 1996. pers. comm. Note: re. Spanish common names
  31. Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
  32. Liogier, H. A. 1981-. Flora of Hispaniola: Part 1; La Flora de la Española. Part II-.
  33. Macbride, J. F. et al., eds. 1936-. Flora of Peru Note: 1936-1971; new ser. 1980-
  34. Matthew, K. M. 1983. The flora of the Tamilnadu Carnatic.
  35. McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
  36. Munro, D. B. Canadian poisonous plants information system (on-line resource).
  37. Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970-. Flora of [West] Pakistan.
  38. Ohwi, J. 1965. Flora of Japan (Engl. ed.). Note: = Nerium indicum
  39. Pagen, F. J. J. 1987. Oleanders: Nerium L. and the oleander cultivars. Agric. Univ. Wageningen Pap. 87-2:1-113.
  40. Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient
  41. Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963-. Flora iranica.
  42. Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
  43. Reitz, R., ed. 1965-. Flora ilustrada catarinense.
  44. Smitinand, T. & K. Larsen, eds. 1970-. Flora of Thailand.
  45. Turrill, W. B. et al., eds. 1952-. Flora of tropical East Africa.
  46. Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
  47. Walker, E. 1976. Flora of Okinawa and the southern Ryukyu Islands.
  48. Woodson, R. E. & R. W. Schery, eds. 1943-1980. Flora of Panama.
  49. Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
  50. Wunderlin, R. & B. Hansen. Atlas of Florida vascular plants (on-line resource).
Common names
LanguageNameAlternate namenoteseqCitation
Englisholeander  1Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Englishrose bay  1Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
Englishrose-laurel  1Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
Afrikaansselonsroos  2Henderson, L. 2001. Alien weeds and invasive plants: a complete guide to declared weeds and invaders in South Africa. Plant Protection Research Institute, Handbook 12
Frenchlaurier rose  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Frencholeandre  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
GermanOleander  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Japanese Rōmajikyōchiku-tō as Nerium indicum2Ohwi, J. 1965. Flora of Japan (Engl. ed.). Note: = Nerium indicum
Portuguese (Brazil)espirradeira  2Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Portuguese (Brazil)oleandro  2Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm. Note: re. Brazilian common names
Spanishadelfa  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanishbalandre  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanishlaurel rosa  2León, B. 1996. pers. comm. Note: re. Spanish common names
Spanishpascua  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Swedishnerium  2Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Transliterated Arabichaban  2Ghazanfar, S. A. 1992. An annotated catalogue of the vascular plants of Oman. Scripta Botanica Belgica 2
Distribution
order_codeStatusContinentSubcontinentCountryStateNoteReference
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaAlgeria  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaLibya  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaMorocco  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaTunisia  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeAfricaWest Tropical AfricaNiger  Pagen, F. J. J. 1987. Oleanders: Nerium L. and the oleander cultivars. Agric. Univ. Wageningen Pap. 87-2:1-113.
1NativeAsia-TemperateArabian PeninsulaOman  Ghazanfar, S. A. 1992. An annotated catalogue of the vascular plants of Oman. Scripta Botanica Belgica 2
1NativeAsia-TemperateArabian PeninsulaUnited Arab Emirates  Pagen, F. J. J. 1987. Oleanders: Nerium L. and the oleander cultivars. Agric. Univ. Wageningen Pap. 87-2:1-113.
1NativeAsia-TemperateChinaChinaYunnan Sheng Pagen, F. J. J. 1987. Oleanders: Nerium L. and the oleander cultivars. Agric. Univ. Wageningen Pap. 87-2:1-113.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaAfghanistan  Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963-. Flora iranica.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaCyprus  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaIran  Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963-. Flora iranica.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaIraq  Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963-. Flora iranica.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaIsrael  Pagen, F. J. J. 1987. Oleanders: Nerium L. and the oleander cultivars. Agric. Univ. Wageningen Pap. 87-2:1-113.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaJordan  Pagen, F. J. J. 1987. Oleanders: Nerium L. and the oleander cultivars. Agric. Univ. Wageningen Pap. 87-2:1-113.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaLebanon  Pagen, F. J. J. 1987. Oleanders: Nerium L. and the oleander cultivars. Agric. Univ. Wageningen Pap. 87-2:1-113.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaSyria  Pagen, F. J. J. 1987. Oleanders: Nerium L. and the oleander cultivars. Agric. Univ. Wageningen Pap. 87-2:1-113.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaTurkey  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndiaJammu and Kashmir Pagen, F. J. J. 1987. Oleanders: Nerium L. and the oleander cultivars. Agric. Univ. Wageningen Pap. 87-2:1-113.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndiaPunjab Pagen, F. J. J. 1987. Oleanders: Nerium L. and the oleander cultivars. Agric. Univ. Wageningen Pap. 87-2:1-113.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentNepal  Pagen, F. J. J. 1987. Oleanders: Nerium L. and the oleander cultivars. Agric. Univ. Wageningen Pap. 87-2:1-113.
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentPakistan  Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970-. Flora of [West] Pakistan.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeAlbania  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeCroatia  Pagen, F. J. J. 1987. Oleanders: Nerium L. and the oleander cultivars. Agric. Univ. Wageningen Pap. 87-2:1-113.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeGreece incl. Crete & e. Aegean IslandsGreuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeItaly incl. Sardinia, SicilyGreuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeMalta  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropeFrance incl. CorsicaTutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropePortugal  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropeSpain incl. BalearesTutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
2Cultivated    also cult. 
4Naturalized    widely natzd. 
6Other    exact native range obscure 
Native
Africa
  • NORTHERN AFRICA: Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia
  • WEST TROPICAL AFRICA: Niger
Asia-Temperate
  • ARABIAN PENINSULA: United Arab Emirates, Oman
  • WESTERN ASIA: Afghanistan, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey
  • CHINA: China [Yunnan Sheng]
Asia-Tropical
  • INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: India [Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab], Nepal, Pakistan
Europe
  • SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE: Albania, Greece (incl. Crete & e. Aegean Islands), Croatia, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Malta
  • SOUTHWESTERN EUROPE: Spain (incl. Baleares), France (incl. Corsica), Portugal
Cultivated (also cult.)
Naturalized (widely natzd.)
Other (exact native range obscure)

Reference(s)
  1. Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
  2. Ghazanfar, S. A. 1992. An annotated catalogue of the vascular plants of Oman. Scripta Botanica Belgica 2
  3. Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
  4. Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970-. Flora of [West] Pakistan.
  5. Pagen, F. J. J. 1987. Oleanders: Nerium L. and the oleander cultivars. Agric. Univ. Wageningen Pap. 87-2:1-113.
  6. Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963-. Flora iranica.
  7. Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963-. Flora iranica.
  8. Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
Economic Uses
UsageTypeNoteReference
Environmentalornamental Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
Environmentalornamental Krüssmann, G. 1984. Manual of cultivated broad-leaved trees and shrubs (English translation of Handbuch der Laubgehölze. 1976)
Medicinesfolklore Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
Medicinesfolklore McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Medicinesfolkloreas Nerium oleander & N. indicaCouncil of Scientific and Industrial Research, India. 1948-1976. The wealth of India: a dictionary of Indian raw materials and industrial products. Raw materials. Note: as Nerium indicum
Vertebrate poisonsmammals Kellerman, T. S. et al. 1988. Plant poisonings and mycotoxicoses of livestock in Southern Africa Note: poisonous
Vertebrate poisonsmammals Cooper, M. R. & A. W. Johnson. 1998. Poisonous plants and fungi in Britain: animal and human poisoning Note: poisonous
Vertebrate poisonsmammals Lampe, K. F. & M. A. McCann. 1985. AMA handbook of poisonous and injurious plants Note: poisonous
Vertebrate poisonsmammalsas Nerium oleander & N. indicumKingsbury, J. M. 1964. Poisonous plants of the United States and Canada. 265-266. Note: as Nerium indicum
Weedseed contaminantpotentialHenderson, L. 2001. Alien weeds and invasive plants: a complete guide to declared weeds and invaders in South Africa. Plant Protection Research Institute, Handbook 12
Weedseed contaminantpotentialCampbell, F. T., ed. 1995. Report of National Coalition of Exotic Plant Pest Councils (unpublished draft)
Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=25229. Accessed 15 April 2026.