Nerium oleander Soleil Levant

The 'Soleil Levant' Oleander is a descendant of Nerium oleander, a vigorous evergreen bush emblematic of Mediterranean gardens. This variety, particularly floriferous and compact, produces single flowers, with a bright salmon pink colour, continuously from June to October if the soil remains moist. They are grouped in generous clusters, enhanced by an elegant dark green foliage, attractive even when not in bloom. Easy to grow in any well-drained soil, resistant to sea spray and drought, its only weakness is its relatively poor hardiness, especially during its early years. It is best grown in regions that do not experience very cold winters. This variety generally does not exceed 1.50m (4ft 11in) in height at maturity. For this reason, it is perfect for container cultivation on terraces, balconies, or even in small gardens, which can then be stored during winter in colder regions. It also makes compact and colourful hedges.

The numerous cultivars of Oleander available on the horticultural market are mostly hybrids between Nerium oleander subsp. oleander, native to the Mediterranean region, and Nerium oleander subsp. indicum, highly fragrant, native from Iran to China. Their flowers are single, double, or even triple and come in an almost infinite range of colours, from white to pink, yellow, salmon, red, and even purple. Blue is the only colour missing.

Nerium oleander is an evergreen bush in the Apocynaceae family, just like periwinkles or false jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides). 'Soleil Levant' naturally forms a bushy and branching bush, with multiple stems and a generally rounded habit. Vigorous, it will reach an average height of 1.50m (4ft 11in) with a spread of 1m (3ft 4in) at maturity, with rapid growth. Its flexible branches, covered with a grey bark, bear long, thick, and leathery evergreen leaves, slightly bluish green on the upper side and lighter on the underside. They measure 10 to 15cm (3.9 to 5.9in) in length and 3cm (1.2in) in width. In case of intense drought, Nerium sheds some of its leaves, particularly the older ones located at the base of the stems. The flowering occurs in spring and again from late summer to autumn, or continuously from spring to autumn depending on the climate, for 4 to 5 months in moist soil. The flowers consist of a tube that opens into 5 bright pink petals and an orange throat, surrounded by thin and turbinate buds. They are gathered in corymbs, mainly at the terminal part of stems aged 1 or 2 years. This nectar-rich and honey-producing flowering is followed by the formation of long reddish pods that burst open at maturity, releasing a multitude of small seeds with a bouquet of white bristles, dispersed by the wind. Be careful not to prune the oleander too severely: only stems that have reached a certain length bear flowers!

A symbol of resistance and generosity, Nerium oleander is an excellent hedge plant by the sea but also a magnificent specimen to plant in a warm location. Hardy down to -8/-10°C once well established, it will easily grow in any ordinary, well-drained soil. It can also be used as a hedge, regularly pruned, in combination with other evergreen bushes such as Bay Laurel, Elaeagnus ebbingei, Mexican Orange, myrtles, Pittosporum tobira, and even Grevillea. In mild climates, it can be trained as a small tree by selecting the most beautiful stem and allowing it to branch out at a height of 1.50m (4ft 11in) or 2m (6ft 7in) before letting it grow. The resulting specimens are particularly ornamental but require a very mild winter that will not cause them to die back to the ground: it would be a shame for severe frost to destroy several years of work in just a few hours! On the terrace, it will thrive in a large pot, alongside citrus trees, Grevillea, and oleanders. This cultivation method allows the tree to be stored in a very bright, cool but frost-free location in our colder regions.

The genus name, Nerium, is said to come from its ancient Greek name, Nerion, derived from Nereus, a sea god in Greek mythology. Another interpretation links Nerium to neros, meaning moist in Greek. The underlying liquid element in both interpretations is likely explained by the fact that the wild Oleander never grows far from water. Its long roots anchor deep into the ground to draw in freshness, even on the slopes of gorges or in the beds of dried-up rivers. Proof of its incredible drought resistance, in arid regions such as the Negev in Israel or the south of the Anti-Atlas in Morocco, Nerium oleander is one of the few bushes, along with Acacia and Retama (a type of broom), capable of facing the desert, anchored in the walls of ravines.