NERIUM oleander Soeur Agnes

Shrub, or sometimes small tree, perennial and evergreen, with fast growth and compact habit, native to the Mediterranean Sea basin: at full development it can exceed 2.50 m in height and a little less in width. Well lignified and densely branched from the base, it bears numerous upright, vertical stems that tend to diverge slightly at the top, making the plant assume a supple, open and graceful appearance and which branch repeatedly in several points: on the nodes of the branches verticillated arrangement linear-lanceolate leaves with smooth edges, sharp apex and showy central vein, hairless, leathery and dark green in color. Starting from late spring and until autumn, large hemispherical inflorescences form on the tops of the stems composed of numerous showy flowers with a simple five-lobed corolla of an attractive dark velvety red: these are followed in autumn by dehiscent fruits similar to long pods containing abundant seeds from the showy as fragile as pappus, useful organ for anemophilous dissemination, i.e. guided by the wind.

It should be placed in full sun or only partial shade in any type of permeable and well-drained soil. It tolerates the proximity of the sea with its salty winds as well as long periods of drought. It bears minimum temperatures only a few degrees below zero, therefore where the winter minimums should be lower and above all more lasting, it is recommended to plant it in a sheltered place, or even better a possible shelter in a cool and bright place in winter. Towards the end of the bad season it is possible to intervene by cutting dry, damaged or bulky parts; sometimes in the same period all the stems can be vigorously pruned to give it a more regular shape, to stimulate a thicker growth and above all a more generous flowering. Despite its bad reputation as a toxic and poisonous plant, it is certainly widespread and ambassador of 'Mediterranean character': it adapts to cultivation on terraces and balconies, inside sufficiently large containers; in the open ground it knows how to be the superb protagonist of corners of our garden alone, as a large bush and let's not forget the burying of several specimens in sequence to create impenetrable hedges, easy to maintain, dazzling all year round and very lively during the beautiful season, as well as its possible combination with other essences, shrubby or herbaceous, with complementary blooms.