Plants That Look Like Oleander: Beautiful and Safer Alternatives

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Robby

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Oleander (Nerium oleander) is an evergreen shrub grown for its attractive leaves and abundant, whorled flowers. Some types of oleander shrubs can be pruned into small trees, but their natural growth pattern produces a mound of foliage as wide as it is tall. Many varieties of oleander plants are available in commerce. This means that you can select the types of oleander shrubs with the mature height and blossom color that work best in your backyard. Read on for information about oleander varieties.

Oleander is a popular landscaping plant known for its showy flowers and ability to thrive in hot, dry climates However, oleander is also highly toxic, posing a danger to people, pets and wildlife Fortunately, there are many safer alternatives that offer the beauty of oleander without the risk. In this article, we’ll explore some excellent plants that look like oleander but are not poisonous.

Why Replace Oleander

While oleander (Nerium oleander) provides vibrant color andscreening, it has significant downsides:

  • All parts of the plant contain deadly cardiac glycosides. Ingesting any part can cause nausea vomiting dizziness, abnormal heart function, seizures and even death.

  • The sap can cause skin irritation. Pruning requires gloves and protective clothing.

  • Oleander is not native to North America. It offers limited habitat and food sources for native wildlife.

  • Once established, oleander can be invasive and difficult to control.

For these reasons, replacing oleander with safer, native lookalikes benefits people, pets and the local ecology.

Great Alternatives to Oleander

Many excellent shrubs and small trees can provide the visual impact of oleander without the risks. Here are some top options:

Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis)

This small, graceful tree grows 15-30 feet tall with a 20-25 foot spread. It flowers summer into fall with orchid-like blooms in white, pink, lavender or burgundy. The narrow leaves provide dappled shade. Desert willow grows fast and blends beautifully into xeric landscapes. It attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators. Varieties like ‘Bubba’, ‘Tejas White’ and ‘Lucretia Hamilton’ add wonderful color without seed pods.

Texas Sage (Leucophyllum spp.)

This compact evergreen reaches 4-8 feet tall and wide. It tolerates heat, drought, wind and poor soils. Texas sage explodes with stunning summer flowers in fuchsia, purple, white or a mix. Varieties include ‘Green Cloud’, ‘Thunder Cloud’, ‘Rain Cloud’ and more. Texas sage attracts hummingbirds and butterflies while being extremely low maintenance. It works well for borders, accent plantings and mass plantings.

Hopseed Bush (Dodonaea viscosa)

Also called varnishleaf, this large bushy shrub grows 10-18 feet tall and wide. The lush green, leathery leaves provide excellent year-round color. Though not showy, the small greenish flowers give way to eye-catching papery seed capsules. With moderate water, hopseed bush grows quickly to fill spaces with rich evergreen foliage. It works well for screening, hedges and background plantings.

Feather Dalea (Dalea formosa)

This airy, fine-textured shrub reaches 4-6 feet tall and wide. Feathery grey-green foliage provides beautiful contrast and texture. Slender spikes of lavender flowers bloom spring into fall. Shear annually to maintain its open, graceful form. Feather dalea thrives in full sun and needs little supplemental water once established. It combines beautifully with grasses and succulents.

Rosewood (Vauquelinia californica)

Also known as Arizona rosewood, this large evergreen shrub grows 10-15 feet tall and wide. The leathery oval leaves resemble oleander’s. Clusters of small white flowers in spring give way to decorative seed pods. It tolerates drought and poor soils while providing dense foliage for screening and privacy. Give rosewood space to reach its full size. It works well in xeric plantings and native gardens.

Quailbush (Atriplex lentiformis)

This hardy native evergreen reaches 6-10 feet tall and wide. Its thick, silvery-green leaves offer excellent drought tolerance. Quailbush requires little maintenance or supplemental irrigation once established. Though the tiny flowers are unimpressive, quailbush serves well for screening and barriers. It also provides food and shelter for local wildlife. Plant quailbush as a hedge or background shrub.

Evergreen Sumac (Rhus virens)

This tough, spreading evergreen grows 8-15 feet tall and 10-20 feet wide. The leathery, dark green leaves resemble oleander’s while the branched form mimics oleander’s vase shape. Clusters of small creamy flowers in spring give way to red berry-like drupes that attract birds. Evergreen sumac tolerates any soil, reblooms after cutting and does well along borders. It makes a fine screen or barrier plant.

Texas Olive (Cordia boissieri)

This small native tree reaches 15-25 feet tall and wide. The olive-like leaves provide dappled shade and excellent contrast. Fragrant white flowers bloom spring into summer, attracting butterflies. Though somewhat frost tender, Texas olive offers great color, texture and form for xeric landscapes. It combines well with agaves, yuccas and grasses. Texas olive works nicely as a specimen plant or light shade tree.

Creating Stunning, Safe Landscapes

Oleander has dominated southern landscapes for decades, but its fatal toxicity poses too much risk. Fortunately, many gorgeous plants can provide similar form, color and resilience without endangering people, pets or wildlife.

For stunning, safe gardens, replace oleander with one of these outstanding native alternatives. Their natural beauty and hardiness make them perfect additions to water-wise and wildlife gardens. free article rewriter tool

With planning and smart plant choices, you can craft outdoor spaces that uplift the spirit and support biodiversity. Your own sustainable sanctuary awaits! Let these oleander lookalikes bring you vibrant color without the dangers of this notoriously poisonous exotic.

plants that look like oleander

Different Kinds of Oleander Plants

Oleanders look something like olive trees with blossoms. They can grow from 3 to 20 feet (1-6 m.) tall and from 3 to 10 feet (1-3 m.) wide. The blossoms are fragrant and different kinds of oleander plants produce different color flowers. All oleander plant types are relatively low maintenance, however, and the shrubs are popular with gardeners in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11.

Many oleander varieties are cultivars, varieties developed for special characteristics. Currently, you can buy more than 50 different oleander plant types for your garden.

  • One of the popular oleander plant types is the oleander cultivar Hardy Pink. It rises to 15 feet (5 m.) tall and expands to 10 feet (3 m.) wide, offering pretty pink blossoms all summer long.
  • If you like double flowers, you might try Mrs. Lucille Hutchings, one of the larger oleander varieties. It grows to 20 feet (6 m.) tall and produces peach-hued flowers.
  • Another one of the tall types of oleander shrubs is ‘Tangier,’ a cultivar that grows to 20 feet (6 m.) tall, with pale pink blossoms.
  • Pink Beauty is yet another of the tall oleander plant types. It grows to 20 feet (6 m.) tall and bears lovely, large pink flowers that have little fragrance.
  • For white blossoms, try Album cultivar. It grows to 18 feet (5.5 m.) tall in USDA zones 10 and 11.

Oleander Standards for the Front Entryway: Beautiful and Toxic!

FAQ

What looks similar to oleander?

DEAR CARIANNE – What are some native alternatives to oleander?
  • Hopbush (Dodonaea viscosa)
  • Arizona rosewood (Vauquelinia californica)
  • Quailbush (Atriplex lentiformis)
  • Desert hackberry (Celtis pallida/ehrenbergiana)
  • Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis)
  • Creosote (Larrea tridentata)

What plant resembles oleander?

Arizona rosewood (Vauquelinia californica): This large shrub grows to 15 feet and is evergreen. Its leaves are similar in shape to the oleander, but are a darker green. It has lovely creamy flowers in the spring, followed by decorative seedheads.

Why is oleander illegal in the USA?

It is used as a freeway median divider in warmer states, such as California. This plant is extremely toxic, and a single leaf may kill an adult.

What to replace oleander with?

Citrus trees planted close should work for you. They will grow thick, are evergreen and have colorful fruit and wondeful smelling flowers. Hibiscus should work for you too, but won’t grow quite as thick. Overall it’s hard to beat oleander when it comes to hardieness and utility.

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