Oleander – Nerium oleander ‘Calypso’

General Landscape Uses:  Primarily used as a fast-growing privacy screen, flowering hedge, or a colorful accent shrub. Its tolerance for harsh conditions makes it ideal for median strips, parking lots, and industrial landscapes. Ecological Restoration Notes: Not typically used for restoration as it is non-native to North America. Description: A robust, evergreen shrub with an upright, multi-stemmed growth habit. It features leathery, willow-like dark green leaves that provide a dense backdrop for its flowers. Dimensions: Height 10 – 15 ft.; Spread 8 – 10 ft. Growth Rate: Fast Native Range: The species is native to the Mediterranean region and parts of subtropical Asia. Native Habitats: Often found along dry stream beds (wadis) and rocky coastal areas. Soils: Sand, loam, clay Nutritional Requirements: Low Salt Water Tolerance: Low Salt Wind Tolerance: High Drought Tolerance: High Light Requirements: Full Sun Flower Color: Pink Flower Characteristics: Single, funnel-shaped blooms produced in large, showy clusters at the branch tips. Flowering Season: All year Fruit: Long, narrow pods containing numerous silk-tufted seeds Wildlife and Ecology: While the flowers attract some pollinators (mostly for visual appeal), the plant provides minimal nutritional value. Horticultural Notes: Propagated by cuttings Comments: