Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Synonyms Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Nerium oleander L.

Synonyms

Nerium odorum Sol. ex Ait.

Family

Apocynaceae

Common Names

common oleander, oleander, oleander rose laurel, pink oleander, rose bay, rose laurel, white oleander

Origin

Native to northern Africa (i.e. Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Niger and Ethiopia), southern Europe (i.e. France, Portugal, Spain, Albania, Greece, Italy, Malta and Yugoslavia), western Asia, the Indian sub-continent (i.e. India, Nepal and Pakistan) and western China. However, the exact native range of this species is somewhat obscure.

Naturalised Distribution

Widely naturalised, but with a scattered distribution in many parts of mainland Australia. It has been recorded in eastern Queensland, in some parts of eastern New South Wales, in eastern and south-eastern South Australia, and in the south-western and northern parts of Western Australia. Also naturalised on Lord Howe Island and sparingly naturalised in Victoria.

Widely naturalised in other parts of the world, including in southern USA.

Notes

Oleander (Nerium oleander) is regarded as an environmental weed in South Australia and New South Wales, and as a minor or potential environmental weed in Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria.