This Deadly Flowering Shrub is All Over Arizona Yards – Just a Few Leaves Can Kill an Adult

One of the Deadliest Plants in Arizona

That gorgeous flowering shrub with the pretty pink or white blooms lining your neighbor’s driveway? Yeah, it might be as dangerous as a rattlesnake.

If you have Nerium oleander on your property, here’s why you should consider taking it out.

What Is Nerium Oleander?

Nerium oleander is a fast-growing evergreen shrub can shoot up to 8-12 feet tall (sometimes even 20 feet!) and is originally from Europe and Asia. Part of the dogbane family, its leaves look a lot like olive tree leaves.

People call it by many names: Rose Bay, Rose Laurel, Dog Bane, Scented Oleander, South Sea Rose, or Sweet Oleander.

What Does Nerium Oleander Look Like?

You’ll spot oleander by its narrow, leathery leaves with sharp points that grow 3-10 inches. The flowers come in many colors, from yellow to white, pink, and red.

The plant makes seed pods filled with seeds that have tiny brown hair tufts on top, ready to spread all over your neighborhood.

Literally the Entire Plant is Toxic

Every single part of the oleander is toxic enough to take you out.

The flowers, leaves, stems, twigs, roots, seeds, and bark all contain poisons that can stop your heart. The roots and seeds are the most dangerous, but don’t think the leaves are any safer.

Break a branch, and the thick, gummy sap that oozes out can give you a nasty skin rash. Even the smoke from burning oleander can poison you, so forget about adding those trimmings to your fire pit.

Dried, fresh, powdered… it doesn’t matter. And that goes for the common oleander plant (Nerium oleander), and its relative, the yellow oleander (Cascabela thevetia).

Arizona Homeowners Can’t Get Enough of It

Arizona homeowners LOVE this plant because it basically thrives on neglect.

Seriously, the hotter and drier, the better for oleander. Once it gets going, you barely need to water it.

The dense growth creates perfect privacy screens from those nosy neighbors, and the bright flowers pop against the boring beige desert backdrop.

NEVER Let Children Get Close to It

In a truly heartbreaking case, a child died after accidentally eating an oleander leaf, mistaking it for a guava leaf.

The poisoning hit fast and hard, starting with vomiting and confusion. Within hours, the child’s body was shutting down with kidney failure, heart problems, and bleeding.

Despite everything doctors tried, the child died just 36 hours after eating the leaf. The autopsy showed bleeding throughout major organs and a severely damaged stomach.

If you have kids or grandkids who visit, this story alone should have you speed-dialing a landscaper for immediate oleander removal.

Don’t Use it as DIY Medicine

Despite being deadly toxic, ancient healers have used Nerium oleander for centuries.

This history might explain why a 42-year-old cancer patient decided to brew oleander flower tea for pain relief. Within an hour, she was violently throwing up as the toxins kicked in.

By the time she reached the hospital, her heart was barely beating at 45 beats per minute. Against all odds, she recovered with just supportive care, making her one of the few people to survive serious oleander poisoning.

It’s a Death Trap for Animals, Too

Just 5-8 leaves contain enough poison to kill a full-grown cow. Dogs can get seriously sick from eating only a small amount of the plant. Horses suffer terribly from gut pain, stomach paralysis, and often deadly kidney failure.

This isn’t just theory: in Brazil, 92 cattle were poisoned by oleander in several outbreaks, and 57 of them, over two-thirds died painful deaths.

It’s Starting to Spread in Arizona

That gorgeous hedge a lot of people pay big bucks for? The USDA Forest Service officially calls it an invasive weed, and its spreading.

Oleander has started breaking out of yards and invading natural areas near Boyce Thompson Arboretum and Camp Creek. These plants spread by sending out suckers underground, (sending up new shoots from roots) and can quickly take over smaller landscapes.

California issued a “Code Red” on this plant back in 2000, and Saguaro National Park now lists it as an invasive threat.

Signs of Nerium Oleander Poisoning

If someone’s been messing with oleander, watch for these warning signs.

Victims usually get a fever and killer headache before their heart rate and blood pressure crash. Next comes the stomach nightmare—nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe belly pain.

As the poison attacks the nervous system, the person gets confused and disoriented. They might feel numb in parts of their body or have trouble seeing clearly.

Some break out in rashes, feel super dizzy, or pass out. In the worst cases, they become depressed and see strange halos around lights.

First Aid Tips for Oleander Poisoning

If you suspect oleander poisoning, act FAST.

Call 911 right away, then reach Arizona Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 while making sure the person can breathe. Don’t try to make them throw up unless the professionals tell you to—it could make things worse.

Wipe their mouth with a wet cloth to get rid of any plant pieces, get them to the emergency room pronto, and bring a piece of the plant if you can.

Safe Alternatives to Oleander

For year-round greenery, try hopbush, Arizona rosewood, quailbush, desert hackberry, jojoba, or creosote. If you’re cool with seasonal changes, whitebush, yellow bells, wolfberry, and shrubby senna give you all the beauty without the trip to the emergency room.