The Herbarium at the University of Georgia Poisonous Plants of Georgia
The Herbarium of the University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
Common Name:
Scientific Name:
Oleander, Rose Bay Nerium oleander L.
Family:
 Apocynaceae
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This plant may be poisonous to both humans and animals. Please refer to the "Symptoms" section below for information regarding susceptiblity of animal species to poisoning.
Description:
 This plant is a shrub or a tree up to 20 ft tall. The young stems are green and smooth becoming roughened and gray with age. Milky sap is present. The leaves are simple, leathery, evergreen, and either opposite or whorled. Each leaf is narrowly oval up to 10 in long, has a prominent midrib, and parallel lateral veins. The flowers form elongated clusters at the end of the branches, are formed by a tube that extends to 5 lobes, and vary in color. This shrub is often seen in coastal regions of the southeastern United States.
Toxic Part: All parts of the plant contain the toxic compounds. Avoid ingesting this plant.
Toxin: Oleander contains the cardiac glycosides oleandrin, folinerin, oleandroside, nerioside and digitoxigenin.
Symptoms: In people, ingesting oleander can cause dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, confusion, dizziness, and cardiac disturbances which can include dysrrhythmias, a decrease in blood pressure, and may result in death.
Treatment: Treatment is similar to that for digitalis intoxication. Prior to cardiac symptoms vomiting may be induced and activated charcoal administered to remove toxins from the GI tract. For some cases injection of atropine normalizes cardiac rhythms. Recently, use of digoxin-specific Fab antibody fragments to bind with oleander glycosides has been successful in systematically removing these toxins
References: 16, 67, 108, 166, 186
This site is NOT a substitute for the advice of medical physician. Plant poisonings can, in certain cases, result in SERIOUS HARM AND EVEN DEATH. Please contact a physician or your local poison control center if you suspect any plant poisoning. A link to the Georgia Poison Control Center can be found on the "References and Links" page of this site.