Nerium Oleander Aurea Luteum Plennum
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Double Cream/Yellow Oleander / 'Luteum Plenum' Oleander
Botanical Name: Nerium oleander aurea luteum plennum
Family: Apocynaceae
Origin: Mediterranean Basin & SW Asia
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub
Overview
A compact, heat-loving yellow oleander tailor-made for Adelaide and South Australian conditions. ‘Luteum Plenum’ carries showy, fully double soft-yellow/apricot blooms for months against glossy green foliage on a naturally tidy shrub. Tough, coastal-capable and low-maintenance, it delivers reliable colour where many plants struggle.
Key Features
- Mature Size: 2–3 m H × 1.5–2.5 m W (easily clipped smaller)
- 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
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Flowers: Fully double, rich yellow to soft apricot clusters, lightly to moderately fragrant; main flush late spring–autumn with repeats in warm spells
- Seasonal Interest: Long warm-season flowering over neat evergreen bones; decorative pods/branching add winter texture
- Wildlife Value: Limited pollinator value (some nectar visits); not a wildlife food plant due to toxicity
- Tolerance: Drought-Tolerant (once established), Heat-Tolerant, Coastal-Tolerant, 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)
- Pet Friendly: Toxic — all parts poisonous; sap can irritate. Wear gloves and 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 clays 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 main flush or in late winter to shape; feed in early spring
- Lifespan: 20-30+ years
- Climate Zones: Suited to temperate & Mediterranean SA, including coastal Adelaide sites
- Soil pH: Acid, Neutral, Alkaline (best Neutral → mildly Alkaline with sharp drainage)
Landscape & Design Ideas
- Coastal hedge or screen for Adelaide seaside blocks—salt/wind tough with months of yellow bloom
- Hot, reflective sites (driveways, pool surrounds) where many shrubs fail
- Large feature pots in sunny courtyards—enjoy colour and scent up close (site away from pets/children due to toxicity)
Why You Will Love It
‘Luteum Plenum’ gives romantic, double yellow flowers over a long season while shrugging off South Australia’s heat, wind and coastal conditions. If you need a reliable, low-care evergreen that looks polished and flowers hard in Adelaide, this oleander is a standout—just handle responsibly given its toxicity.