Evergreen and magnificent flowers: The rose laurel not only looks beautiful, but is also active in environmental protection.
Palms, citrus fruits, bougainvillea and oleander - these are the classics of Mediterranean garden culture. In order to enjoy these plants for as long as possible and to experience them in all their splendor in the garden, the experts at Can Juanito have a few important tips. This month it's all about the oleander.
The world of the rose oleander – Nerium oleanderNo other plant is as widespread in many urban and rural landscapes as this one. Its adaptation to the local climate and its ease of care make it a very pleasant plant for gardens and terraces to separate spaces or create privacy. It is an ornamental plant that can grow up to six meters high.
The rose laurel is called balandre or oleander and stands out for its evergreen leaves and long flowering period, even in the middle of summer. The flowers can be pink, red or white, resulting in a wide variety of colors that brighten up any area.
The specialist for carbon dioxide
The oleander tolerates full sun and has a special characteristic that makes it the preferred species for planting in streets and even in the middle of the highway: it absorbs carbon dioxide. The suspended dust particles contained and transported in the air are absorbed by the leaf surface, helping to minimize the effects of pollution, which makes it highly recommended if you want to delimit your property from a road or path. It is not very demanding in terms of water requirements and resists drought very well, which means a considerable saving of irrigation water; a good feature in these times. It is a shrub-like plant that can also be pruned into a tree shape.
September – time for pruning!
The best time to prune the oleander is at the end of the main flowering period, i.e. the end of summer, in mid-September before the autumn dormancy, when it hardly forms any leaves. Another
Another ideal time for pruning is shortly before spring, as pruning at the time when the flower buds appear reduces the flowering time. This species can also be cultivated in a pot, whereby the size of the plant depends on the size of the pot. It should be fertilized from March to September, preferably with nitrogen-rich liquid fertilizer. (contains nitrogen, phosphorus, iron and potassium). It does not need large amounts of fertilizer, but if we want it to have lush foliage and abundant flowering, we must ensure that it has access to the necessary nutrients. If the leaves turn yellow, this is usually due to a lack of sunlight, as the plant needs a lot of light and should ideally be moved to a place with more light.
Incidentally, the leaves and petals of the oleander are poisonous if eaten.
The Can Juanito nursery will be happy to advise you without obligation with individual and
optimal solutions for everything to do with greenery. Visit the large exhibition area with a variety of
plants and trees.
Son Ferriol, Palma
Open daily
