New and Unread Tree-Mails
Views: 366, Replies: 9 » Jump to the end |
Dunedin, New Zealand  k_j_angel May 5, 2018 6:13 PM CST |
Does anyone know if this is an Oleander plant? After reading that they are very poisonous, especially for young children, I want to make sure our garden is safe for our toddler. Unfortunately I'm having a little trouble identifying this plant. Any help would be very much appreciated.      |
Name: Daisy I Reno, Nv (Zone 6b) Not all who wander are lost    DaisyI May 5, 2018 6:23 PM CST |
| The good news is that its not an Oleander. But I don't know what it might be. Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and proclaiming...."WOW What a Ride!!" -Mark Frost President: Orchid Society of Northern Nevada Webmaster: osnnv.org |
Name: Lin Vosbury Sebastian, Florida (Zone 10a)              plantladylin May 5, 2018 6:25 PM CST |
| It looks like it may be Yellow Oleander (Cascabela thevetia) which is poisonous. edited to add a couple of photos from our above database link: ~ I'm an old gal who still loves playing in the dirt! ~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot! |
Name: Sue Ontario, Canada (Zone 4a)         sooby May 5, 2018 6:59 PM CST |
 It looks like the flowers may be opening pink or purple from the buds. Do they open more than that? If so, it would help if you could post back with pictures of the more advanced flowers. If they don't open more than that, can you try and get sharper close-up pictures of the flowers? The leaf being palmate should help with the ID also but I don't know what it is. |
Dunedin, New Zealand k_j_angel May 5, 2018 7:22 PM CST |
Thank you for your responses. I've just looked back through some old photos, to try and see what colour the flowers are. It appears to have small white flowers. The photos were taken in November, which is the last month of spring in New Zealand. Sorry the image quality isn't better.   |
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset North Fl. (Zone 8b)     flaflwrgrl May 5, 2018 8:06 PM CST |
| It's certainly not oleander, not even yellow oleander. The leaves being palmate tell us that. Are the leaves opposite or alternate? It's hard to get a good grasp from the photos so if you could just tell us.... Break a leaf & smell it. Break a twig & smell it. A nation mourns its fallen soldiers, who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. And Junior? Well, Junior spies their solemn white graves from the back of his limousine, and he grieves for the inconveniences he overcame for his silver spoons. Quoth the Craven “Nevermore.” ~Walter Shaub~ |
Dunedin, New Zealand k_j_angel May 5, 2018 8:27 PM CST |
| Thank you for your comment flaflwrgrl, that's a huge relief. The leaves are opposite and both the leaves and twigs have a strong, pleasant, slightly sweet smell when broken. I'd be hard pressed to compare it to anything, but some sort of cooking spice like cinnamon might be the closest thing I can think of. |
Name: Scott Tampa FL (Westchase)           ScotTi May 5, 2018 8:50 PM CST |
| Reminds me of a Choisya. |
Dunedin, New Zealand k_j_angel May 5, 2018 9:50 PM CST |
| ScotTi, I think you might be right. The plant in our yard looks almost identical to the Aztec Pearl variety of Choisya, which thankfully doesn't look to be poisonous. Thank you all for your help. Now I can take my toddler outside without worrying. |
Name: Suzanne/Sue Sebastopol, CA (Zone 9a) Sunset Zone 15           |
| We have a few pictures of Mexican Orange Blossom (Choisya 'Aztec Pearl') in our database. My gardening Blog! Hand sewn wares, new & vintage fabrics in my Etsy store. Summer Song Cottage Instagram Sewing posts |
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