評論
打印
Description
This fast growing evergreen shrub can reach up to 20 ft (6.1 m) tall but is usually seen trimmed at 6-10 ft (1.8-3.1 m). It forms a rounded mound to about 10 ft (3.1 m) wide. It is a tough, versatile plant with showy summertime flowers in white, red, pink, salmon and light yellow. Leathery, lance shaped leaves range from about 4-10 in (10.2-25.4 cm) long, depending on variety and are a bright green. Oleanders have a tendency to become leggy - overgrown individuals should be pruned as needed to maintain a nice shape. A popular variety is 'Petit Salmon' which is a dwarf that grows to only 4 ft (1.2 m).
Location
Nerium oleander is native to northern Africa, the eastern Mediterranean basin and southeast Asia. Oleander prefers dry, warm climates and may naturalize in such areas.
Culture
Light: Bright sun, some shade is acceptable.
Moisture: Versatile, can survive both dry and wet soils. Fastest growth occurs when provided moisture in times of drought.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 8-10. Easily grown in warm humid climates, like Florida and the Gulf coast, oleander is recommended for USDA Zones 8-10. It will survive some frost and temperatures to 15-20ºF (-9.4 - -6.7ºC) but foliage will be damaged. Some varieties are hardier than others.
Propagation: Semiripe cuttings are best rooted in summer. Also by seed, but selected cultivars may not grow true to form.
Pests: Aphids and scale may be a problem (more likely in humid climates). Also attacked by a caterpillar that will strip a plant in a matter of days.
Features
The oleander is a tough durable shrub that is inexpensive and easy to grow in most situations. Abundant, beautiful flowers are produced in many colors and some varieties are delightfully fragrant. New homeowners appreciate oleander's satisfyingly fast growth rate and ability to quickly green up a bare lot.
學名：Nerium indicum
別名：柳葉桃
科屬：夾竹桃科、夾竹桃屬
原產印度及伊朗。我國引種已久，各地都有栽培。 常綠灌木或小喬木。吉革質，狹長，3片輪生，也有4片及2片對生的，葉面光亮，側脈羽狀平行而密生，邊緣反卷。聚傘花序頂生，花冠紅色或白色，花單瓣或重瓣，有香氣。
果長角狀。花期6－9月，果期12月－翌年1月。
栽培中常見變種有：白花夾竹桃var.leucanthum，花純白色。重瓣夾竹桃var.plenum，花紅色，重瓣。 同屬植物常見栽培觀賞的還有歐洲夾竹桃N.oleander，花簇生枝頂，桃紅色，產地中海地區。 夾竹桃碧葉青青如柳似竹，團團紅花灼灼似桃，自夏至秋，次第開放，適于公園、綠地、路旁、草坪邊緣、交通綠島上群植，能給少花的夏日披上“桃紅柳綠”的春裝，映染出萬紫千紅的景觀；還宜在工礦區作抗污樹種；盆栽觀賞亦甚相宜，花色艷麗，
夾竹桃的乳汁有小毒，但它是一種極為優良的環保植物種類，被人們譽為植物的“吸塵大王”。一晝夜之間每平方夾竹桃葉可吸收灰塵5克，比其它綠色植物高出幾倍，其葉和樹皮還可入藥。至于這種植物的小毒，不要誤食是沒問題的。
相傳很久以前，阿爾及利亞王國邊地都種著圣潔的夾竹桃。一到夏秋相交之際，它便開滿 了潔白如雪的花朵。美麗的阿德令兒公主喜歡上了自己的家臣。國王聽說后，十分惱怒，將 家臣投入了茫茫大海。傷心欲絕的公主在夾竹桃下自殺，她冰冷的鮮血滲入了黑暗的大地…來年，人們驚奇地發現漫山遍野的夾竹桃都開出了粉紅的花朵兒，如同阿德令兒的臉蛋兒一樣美，仿佛就是她生命的化身。但它卻隱含著致命的毒，也許那是公主對世間無盡的怨恨吧！
