Oleander cold hardy to zero?

Is anyone out there familiar with the new variety of exceptionally cold hardy nerium oleander named Hines Hardy ? It is reportedly cold hardy to zone 7a (0 fahrenheit). The leaves are described as slightly narrower and shorter than traditional oleander, and the flowers are deep red. At a local big box store I noticed yet another variety of nerium oleander also advertised as cold hardy to zone 7a. Its flowers were double petaled, pale pink and lightly fragrant. I've spent a fortune on oleander over the past 3 years, and too much of it has died. This sounds too good to be true. Oleander in Jersey? What's next, zone 8 citrus?

There is such a thing as zone 8 citrus. LOL. Take a look at some of the fruit, http://www.plantfolks.com/index.html.

Every oleander I see around here gets burnt during the winter or the oleander moths do a job on it. My big problem with that plant is every part of the plant is poisonous. If burnt it gives off toxins, it can also poison water. I wouldn't plant it. The only ones I've seen do well are on a causeway planted on the side of a road maybe 10 ft from the ocean. They always bloom great and for some reason they seem to be pest free.

Those moths love my butterfly bush.

I'm doubtful about 0F hardiness for oleanders. Here in z7b, we have oleanders that do just fine during mild winters with just a bit of frozen foliage. But if we have a close-to-normal winter like we did last season (temps around 10F) most of them are fried and have to grow back from the roots. Of course I remember back in the old days (when we were hunting woolly mammoths just to stay alive) in the winters of 78-77 and 84-85 when it would get down to 0F to -10F... and that put a major hurt on the gardenias, aucubas, oleanders, etc.

Anyways, my advice would be, as long as we continue to have mild winters [as based on historical trends] then cold-hardy oleander cultivars should do well for you. But if we ever return even temporarily to a colder climate you might lose them.

Hey CoreHHI
Are you sure that is a moth? Looks like a wasp. If it is a moth it is a great mimic! Fabulous photo!
My BFly Bushes are all new, so no blooms now.
Hopefully later in the summer, they are growing.

It's a moth and they are so beautiful; my neighbors have fits because I won't spray for them. I have plenty of Oleanders and I believe in sharing. LOL

A few years ago I saw a crape myrtle tree farm on the east end of Long Island and that was a surprise to me. Who thought they would grow and thrive that far north.

Interestingly, I was shocked to see camellias and azaleas blooming all over Hawaii last week. When I mentioned that they are winter/spring blomers here a nurseryman told me they bloom year round over there.

Thanks for the info. I'm aware of oleander that is cold hardy here in Sumter to at least 10 degrees, and that's about as cold as it gets here. I noticed several different varieties that stayed green throughout last winter. They are all large and old, with extensive root systems. The hines hardy is supposed to stay green at 10 degrees, even as a young specimen. I don't limit my plant selection to those that are nonpoisonous, and I happen to love oleander. (different strokes) I was unable to access the zone 8a citrus link. I've tried many "porch varieties", but even my cumquat and satsuma died all the way to the ground last winter. If it can't be grown in ground year round, I don't consider citus cold hardy. I'd appreciate more info, Core HHI, concerning in ground zone 8a citrus.

Donna, you might want to check out Stan McKensie's website; he grows and sells hardy citrus in Scranton. http://mckenzie-farms.com/

The plantfolks folks (www.plantfolks,com) are in Beaufort county and although Ned's plants have been certified as clean by the USDA, all citrus in Charleston, Dorchester and Beaufort counties are under quarantine because of the citrus greening disease.

I don't worry about toxic plants either. So many of our common landscape plants and shrubs fall into that catagory. Can you imagine the south without azaleas? We eat potatoes and tomatoes but aren't the green parts of both plants toxic?

Back in the 70's and 80's Disney World had thousands of Oleanders in the landscape and they all had they littles signs saying "pretty but poisonous".

I didn't know that Alice. My citrus better not drop dead. You have a link for green disease?

BTW I don't worry much about poisonous plants but oleanders do make me think, I also don't like them that much so take it as you will.

Oh come on. http://www.saveourcitrus.org/?gclid=CILbyrDO0ZoCFQFHFQody18q3w


Annoyed, yes I am.

There was an article in the Charleston Paper last week about how several agents, looking over a fence, saw an infected tree in someones yard and now the USDA is about to remove it. There have been letters to the editor with "save the lemon tree" messages. This was a very old tree that has been producing bountiful crops for decades.

I have been checking mine carefully. The leaf miners make a mess of the leaves but so far they (the leaves, are a good solid green. I don't have any of that mottled look they mention as being a characteristic.

At the moment my citrus all looks nice and dark green, great growing so far leaf wise and the pest have left them alone. Looks like I'll get a good fruit set for the size trees I have. Surprisingly last year I did see people selling citrus trees from Fla., because I asked where they were grown. I know they've had big problems in Fla. with disease for maybe 5 years now. Maybe longer than that.

It is unusual, with all that cold weather we had I am seeing a great fruit set also. You would have thought fruit would be sparse this year.

I have a cousin that lives about 5 minutes from me and they have a Large Oleander, first one I've seen around here. It is about 12 feet tall or more, Stays green all year and blooms white. I got 2 last year, one white one pink. The white one I planted outside, the pink I kept in. The white one died back but put out this spring and I'm in zone7. I wish I had more. I love them, but have only seen these two out for sale. Haven't seen any for trade. I found the seeds to the mexican oleander and ordered some, but coming far off. Do you know anyone who would trade some or send if I sent shipping charges?

Oleanders grow great here in Pamlico County which is way north of you so they should be fine in Sumter. Mine came from Arizona blooms wonderfully.

Lavina

I don't know the exact name but I live in zone 7 S.C. and I planted in my yard and it died back over winter but sprouted back up just beautiful this spring. I have white, pink and red. I'm trying the mexican oleander seeds right now to get that plant, and going to try it . The tropicals I'm going to compost over for the winter to see if they will make it. We'll know next spring about it.