Oleanders are as tough as old boots which can grow in full sun with just what little summer rain we get here. Peonies are definitely cool climate, acid loving plants which hate to be disturbed and need more watering.

Oleanders are planted as street trees along motorways here and get no attention whatsoever. They never seem to stop flowering. Some can get a bit straggly.

Yep, tough as old boots here too. Not fussy about soil either. I've seen them thriving on very sandy or clayey soil. If they get straggly, they love a prune. I've managed to propagate a beautiful double peachy salmon one planted long ago down the lane. Seems to go pinker in more sun. Exquisite. My next door neighbour has a double pink that has a beautiful fragrance. It's almost been taken over by a weed tree but flowers away where it can get its head up. (weed tree is sweet pittosporum I think - beautiful fragrance and welcome to stay in my opinion)

Becky, I reckon they'd be great around your pool. They grow in such a wide range of climates here in Aus, I can't imagine they wouldn't grow for you. From my other side of the world impression of Alabama you're pretty warm... yes?

Just remember that Oleanders are bad for asthmatics, and the leaves are poisonous if eaten(like most things). Apart from that , theyre excellent! We used to have to butcher Oleanders at a job every year, but they would grow back better and flower better every time.

Oleanders grow well here too - we get a little snow and a lot of frosts every winter. The climate is also wetter than most of Australia and the oleanders seem to thrive. Every part of the plant is very poisonous, not just the leaves.

I have two oleanders growing and they never get watered, I live in a part of aus where the summers are very long and dry. the pink oleander I have has a gorgeous perfumy fragrance but is a tends to grow a bit too tall so the stems droop a bit, but I also have a red one growing, no perfume but looks fantastic when it flowers. I was considering pulling it out because it was originally planted too close to another shrub, but its flowering now and I cant bring myself to do it!

As far as being poisonous, yes it is true, however oleanders have such a bitter taste to them that humans and most animals would never eat enough of the plant to get poisoned, except maybe livestock. If you want to see some pics of my oleanders let me know and I'll take some for you.

Interesting comments but did anyone notice that Becky>> Luvmygarden2 is from Alabama in [USDA] zone 8?
From her posting it almost sounds as though she has strayed into GW Australia by mistake. Zone 8 means lowest winter temperatures of between 10 and 20 F, i.e. about -12 and -7 C (measured well above grass level, which gets a lot colder). This zone occurs in only limited areas of Australia, maybe places like Cooma, Bright, possibly Canberra. Do oleanders do well in this zone? I must confess I am not sure, though Robyn's reply indicates that they might -- though you can get frost and snow in zone 9, e.g. NSW's Blue Mountains. My hunch is that oleanders will survive zone 8 winters as long as the summers are long, hot and sunny.

I live in Yass, and used to live in Canberra - we can get pretty cold for Australia, around -8 is not uncommon. The cold doesn't seem to bother them and they thrive. They have looked so good this year in Yass, with such severe water restrictions they have flourished where so much else has died.

As for the poison, even the smoke is poisonous. Never ever put branches or twigs on your BBQ. People have been known to die. Oleander was all over the place when I was a kid. Never heard of anyone getting poisened, we were very clearly instructed that they would kill you if you put it in your mouth.

Oh and they attract butterflies that have caterpillars that make the most fabulous mirror like cocoons.

Hello all
I am in the U.K. and trying to grow Oleanders. I have 3 plants one is planted in the ground for over a year and so far it has not flowered. I also have 2 in containers and they both have flower shoots but come to nothing. Does anybody know what is causing this? Also I water them on dry days could I be watering them too much? The leaves seem to like it though as they are really strong and growing well.

Thanks for any help.

My mum in Scotland grew gorgeous peonies in acis soil, where there was snow every winter. Oleanders thrive here in Oz and the best ones are in industrial areas where they never get anything but rainwater and full sun.

Hi Becky! I'd say if you can grow bananas, it's far too hot for paeonies. I've tried seed here with no luck. I may have one more go because I am moving further south, but only once. Mum's garden froze for several months in winter.