The oleander is usually propagated vegetatively by cuttings or, if the bushes are larger, by division. However, there is another possibility: older oleanders in particular form seed pods - if the fruit buds are not removed beforehand - in which, with a bit of luck, there are numerous small, winged seeds. These can be used wonderfully to propagate the oleander.
Propagation from seeds has surprises in store
Oleander seed propagation is an exciting business
In contrast to the vegetative forms of propagation, where you know beforehand exactly what the future plant will look like - after all, it is only a clone of the mother plant - you can expect a lot of surprises with seed propagation. Seedlings often do not look like their parent plants at all and the offspring are very different from each other. This phenomenon occurs because the genome of the parent plants mixes with each other as a result of the fertilization of the flowers, mutations can occur or previously suppressed traits from more distant ancestors suddenly asserted themselves.
Breeding new oleander varieties
For this reason, when breeding new varieties of oleander, preference is given to using seedlings. Even you as a hobby gardener can try it. All you need is at least two different types of oleander, which you pollinate by hand with a fine brush immediately after the flower buds open. If seed pods develop, sow the seeds within and cultivate the developing seedlings. However, you need a little patience for breeding, because the small plants do not flower until they are three years old at the earliest - only now can you see what shape and color the flowers have, so that you can select.
Sow seeds and raise seedlings
The seed pods are ready to harvest once they have turned brown and begin to burst open. Collect the seeds inside and then proceed as follows:
- First, soak the seeds in lukewarm water for at least one night.
- Since it is a Mediterranean plant, stratification is not necessary.
- Fill a shallow seed tray with a nutrient-poor growing medium.
- Herb and growing soil is ideal, but a substrate based on coconut fibers is also very suitable.
- Sow the seeds on it, only lightly covering it with sifted soil.
- Oleander belongs to the light germs.
- Spray seeds and substrate with stale and lukewarm tap water.
- Keep the substrate evenly moist until germination.
- Cover the bowl with a piece of cling film or something similar to increase humidity.
- Put the bowl in a light and warm place.
Now you have to be patient, because it can take a few weeks until germination. In principle, oleander seeds can be applied all year round, but the best results are achieved in spring.
tips
In contrast to the propagation of cuttings, the typical oleander diseases such as oleander canker are not inherited by the newly created plants when the seeds are propagated. For this reason, seedlings are particularly popular for grafting (e.g. with standard oleander trees).