In the Mediterranean home of the oleander, the summers are long, hot and dry - and the winters are rather mild. Where the oleander grows wild, the temperatures rarely fall into the low minus range - ice and snow are also a rarity.
Can oleander stay outside in winter?
Oleander can overwinter outside in mild winters if it is well protected and temperatures do not fall below -5 °C. Older plants are more robust. In a pot it is easier to move the plant to winter quarters if necessary. Important: Water regularly, even in winter.
Only leave oleander outside in mild winters
The oleander has long been perfectly adapted to this pleasant Mediterranean climate, which is why it does not belong outside in the cold season, even in our climate with short summers and long, often very cold winters. The flowering shrub can survive up to minus five degrees Celsius, but only for a short period of time. Therefore, the oleander must be properly overwintered in our latitudes. In principle, older oleanders are more robust than young plants, especially if you accustom them to colder temperatures from an early age. To do this, you can leave the bushes outside in winter - provided the temperatures are mild and there are no extreme night frosts. However, pack them well and, above all, ensure that the roots are not damaged. Oleander continues to sprout, even if it has frozen back above ground - only the roots must not be exposed to frost.
If possible, leave oleander in the pot
Unless you live in a region with known very harsh winters, you can also plant oleander in the garden. However, we recommend that you leave a sufficiently large plant pot with holes in the bottom around the root ball so that you can quickly dig up the plant and put it into its winter quarters if necessary - i.e. if the temperatures drop significantly. However, if your oleander remains in a pot, move the container under a eaves or similar, if possible directly in front of a house wall, place the pot on an insulating base made of Styrofoam (€7.00 at Amazon) or wood and pack it carefully with a warming material.
Tip
Don't forget to water the always thirsty oleander even in winter.
