Nerium Oleander 'Madonna Grandiflora'

White Oleander / Madonna Grandiflora Oleander

Botanical Name: Nerium oleander 'Madoni Grandiflorum/Madonna Grandiflora White'
Family: Apocynaceae
Origin: Mediterranean Basin & SW Asia
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub

Overview

A compact, heat-loving white oleander that suits Adelaide and South Australian gardens to a tee. ‘Madonna Grandiflorum’ bears showy semi-double white blooms with a sweet fragrance for months in warm weather, set against glossy green foliage on a tidy, easily shaped shrub. Tough, sun-loving and coastal capable, it’s ideal where reliable colour and low maintenance are essential.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 2–3 m H × 1.5–2.5 m W (naturally dense; can be clipped)
• Growth Rate: 30-60 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Narrow, leathery, glossy mid-green leaves; new growth fresh green, older foliage can show olive/bronze tints in strong sun
• Flowers: Clusters of semi-double, pure white blooms, sweetly fragrant; late spring through autumn in warm climates
  
• Seasonal Interest: Long warm-season flowering over neat evergreen structure; decorative pods and branching add winter texture
• Wildlife Value: Visited by some nectar insects, but not a wildlife food plant
• Tolerance: Drought-Tolerant (once established), Heat-Tolerant, Coastal-Tolerant and Wind-Tolerant; light frost tolerant. Clay-Tolerant if well-drained
• Planting Density: Shrub borders/hedges: 1 plant per metre (dense) or 1 per 1.5 m (looser line)
• Pet Friendly: Toxic — all parts poisonous; sap can irritate. Handle with gloves; dispose of prunings safely

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade (best bloom in full sun)
• Soil: Well-drained loam or sandy loam; improve heavier clay with grit/organic matter
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer (weekly in heatwaves); monthly in winter if dry
• Maintenance: Mulch in spring; light prune after flowering or late winter to shape; feed in early spring
• Lifespan: 20-30+ years
• Climate Zones: Suited to temperate & Mediterranean SA, including coastal Adelaide (sheltered front-line sites)
• Soil pH: Best in Neutral → mildly Alkaline; avoid extreme ends

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Coastal hedge or screen for Adelaide seaside blocks — salt/wind-tough with pure white summer bloom
• Hot, reflective sites (driveways/verg es) where many shrubs struggle — heat and drought resilience shine
• Large feature pots in sunny courtyards — enjoy fragrance and flowers up close (site away from pets/children due to toxicity

Why You Will Love It

‘Madoni Grandiflorum/Madonna Grandiflora White’ gives months of classic white flowers with a gentle perfume, thriving through South Australia’s heat, sun and coastal breezes with minimal fuss. If you need a reliable, water-wise evergreen that looks polished and flowers hard in Adelaide, this oleander delivers — just handle responsibly given its toxicity.