The oleander is a flowering shrub from the Mediterranean region that can be found not only as a cultivated plant but also as a wild plant, especially in North Africa, in southern and central Italy, as well as in Spain and Greece. In appropriately favorable locations, the oleander can grow several meters high and develop a very impressive stature. However, such favorable conditions are not to be found in this country - mainly for climatic reasons.
Oleander should only be planted in warm areas
Oleander is not hardy
In principle, older and therefore more robust oleanders can tolerate temperatures down to minus five degrees Celsius - but only for a very short time and never in combination with ground frost and other inconveniences. In other words: the oleander, which is adapted to the mild Mediterranean climate, is neither hardy nor frost hardy and, if you plant it in the garden, would most likely not survive a typical German winter. Therefore, it is always recommended to keep it in a bucket in order to be able to transfer the shrub to its winter quarters in good time. A dark hibernation - for example in a cellar - does not necessarily harm the plant, it should only be frost-free.
Wintering oleanders outside in sheltered locations?
It is well known that the winters in Germany are not equally severe everywhere, so that planting out in some regions, such as the German wine-growing regions, can be attempted. So if you live in the Rhine-Moselle region and the winters are rather mild there: give it a try. For such an experiment, however, it is better to choose an older, already hardy plant and wrap it well, for example with gardening fleece and / or bubble wrap. Also, it doesn't get terribly cold every winter, some of these seasons remain mild. In such months, you don't necessarily have to put the oleander in, you can leave it outside - but as soon as the temperatures drop, you have to react quickly and put the shrub in the basement. Of course, this only works if it is cultivated in a bucket.
Temporary planting out over the summer is possible
However, you can also keep your oleander temporarily - i. H. limited in time - and plant out in the garden together with the planter. Only the cachepot should be removed so that the shrub is only in the plant pot in the ground. This pot usually has holes in the bottom so that the oleander's roots can grow through and draw water from the soil for themselves. As soon as it gets too cold, the shrub can easily be dug up again and wintered under cold house conditions.
tips
Do not clear your oleander into its winter quarters too early: the longer the plant is outside, the more it hardens and also survives the months with little light better. The shrub only has to be cleared in frosty periods.