The greenskeeper: The ornery Oleander

 The greenskeeper: The ornery Oleander
Growing these flowers from seed or by cutting is an easy task. All they need is a sunny spot and enough space



Gaargh!’ said my brother as he sprang back from the Oleander bush (Nerium oleander) in our yard. He was inspecting the little nest that a sunbird had built deep inside the foliage. When he turned a leaf over, he found himself nose-to-nose with what looked like the hugest, stripiest caterpillar in the world. It curled itself up revealing large menacing hooks, sending the brother screaming to the other end of the garden. The bush was full of them. After devouring half the bush, they turned into chrome-plated pupae, and hatched quietly one day into pretty, but rather non-descript looking black and white butterflies.
Common crow butterflies (Euploea core), as these beauties are called, have a close relationship with Oleanders. They are themselves naturally resistant to the toxic sap of the bushes, but carry the toxin in their bodies, making them unpalatable to predators. The toxicity of the oleander isn’t just restricted to its sap. Oleander seeds too, borne in elegant green pods after their flowers drop off, are notorious for being used to commit suicide in parts of South India. It’s not all bad though. Some traditional medicines call for small amounts of oleander resin, to cure mild aches, pains and stomach troubles.

Known around India as kanagele, arali, ganneru, kaner and raktakarabi, oleanders have graced Indian gardens for centuries. They are likely to have originated in North Africa in the regions surrounding Morocco and Mauritania. Their resistance to disease, drought and poor soil conditions have allowed them to spread far and wide through the Mediterranean. They do brilliantly well in the tropics too, and have been adopted as holy flowers in many places of worship. New oleander cultivars now come in a variety of reds, pinks and whites. Dwarf oleanders too are great in gardens and road dividers, needing little or no looking after once they establish.
Growing oleanders from seed or by cutting is an easy task. All they need is a bright and sunny spot, and enough space to spread their vast masses of fibrous roots. They do okay in large pots too, but don’t expect them to flower as much as ground planted bushes would. You can even try pairing up a dwarf variety with a regular sized one, so that your bush looks fuller. Don’t go crazy planting oleanders all over your garden, though. They’ll soon take over the entire space, sucking up all the water and nutrients for themselves, leaving your other plants gasping for attention. Remember too, that oleander leaves are toxic, so wash your hands whenever you handle oleander cuttings or seeds! If you have kids or pets at home, keep the plants out of their reach as much as possible.
Your oleander is likely to be visited by common crow butterflies every year. Don’t worry if you see the caterpillars munch through your bush. Leave them alone, as they seem to have a salutary effect on the plants’ vigour. You’ll soon be able admire your reflection in their beautiful mirror-cocoons, and watch your garden to fill up with baby butterflies!
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