This is the first article in a series of reports on local poisonous plants.

Nerium oleander

Dogbane family-Apocynaceae

Area gardeners/landscapers have an important decision to make:

1. To permit the oleander in their yards.

2. To keep the oleander out of their yards.

Why should one have to decide this issue? The oleander is both very beautiful, and at the same time, extremely deadly.

Flowering oleanders with their striking color range of white to red and shades of yellow, pink, and salmon make exceedingly attractive borders and hedges as they easily reach 8 to 20 feet in height. It is no wonder that many Cochise County landscapes feature them.

Besides their good looks, oleanders tolerate all types of soil, as well as heat and cold temperature extremes, plus they grow easily and rapidly.

A super plant for your yard? Remember that ALL parts of the oleander are poisonous if eaten. Exercise extreme caution with both children and animals regarding its leaves and flowers. Horses experience a bloody diarrhea after consuming minute amounts of this plant and it proves to be fatal to them almost 100% of the time. Also, oleander fumes are dangerous, so don't use the wood for barbecue purposes.

The decision to permit the oleander in your yard is your decision.