Page 56 - Galveston Monthly March 2019

hOme & GardeN | GARdENiNG

Postcard from 1911 featuring oleanders here is a legend that the pirate Jean Lafitte
planted along Broadway in Galveston played a role in the establishment of the
Toleander on Galveston island. having
attacked and killed all but one of the voyagers on a
Norwegian schooner, Lafitte spared the man who
was clinging to a beautiful flowering plant.
Lafitte brought the man to the island and made
him his gardener. The man’s name was Olea Ander
and Lafitte named the plant in his honor.
Whatever you may believe about the origins of
the oleander on Galveston island, no one can deny
the impact this plant has had on the island, on its
history or on its citizens and visitors.
“The Oleander”, a plant whose name does indeed
evoke a vision of lush tropical splendor.

improve the health conditions of the city. They planted oleanders oleander aphids that appear in early spring to feed on
along Broadway, the entrance to the city, and on 25th Street, the path young growth. (Spray large infestations with Orthene
to the beachfront. Systemic insect Control)
By 1906 the organization was operating its own nursery. The group’s Black Scale is brown or black crusty bumps appearing on
planting continued for many years up and down city streets, in yards, branches, leaves, twigs. (Spray with Orthene Systemic
around public buildings, and on school grounds until eventually over insect Control and dormant oil)
2,500 oleanders were planted throughout the city. The whole city oleander caterpillar is the larval stage of a purple moth
became a garden of oleanders. with greenish/black wings. (Apply Orthene Systemic
As early as 1908, an editorial in the Galveston Tribune observed that insect Control or Liquid Sevin)
the oleander was emblematic of Galveston and that people came from Bacterial gall appears as wart-like spongy cankers,
all over to see them. in 1910, The Galveston Daily News reported that leaves may be distorted and yellow. (Prune out and
Galveston was known throughout the world as “The Oleander City,” destroy stems below the galls)
and in 1916, an article in a national publication named it one of the witches Broom are abnormal growths at the end of
most beautiful cities in the South. branch tips that turn brown and die. (Prune and discard
affected areas)
olEanDER caRE
The oleander is easy to grow and maintain, needing only lots of sun Mexican Oleander
and adequate moisture. Generally it does not require much in the
way of fertilization - no muss, no fuss with this plant. it comes in many
varieties, a wide range of colors, and blooms profusely.
Also easy to propagate, especially during the warmer months, roots
will grow from cuttings placed in a rooting medium or in plain water.
A hardy shrub, the occasional attack of common aphids, mealy-bugs
or scale can be easily controlled and should they make an appearance,
those pesky galls may be cut off with a sharp knife.
The most frequently asked questions about oleanders involve
pruning. According to The international Oleander Society, the main
reason people prune their oleanders is to shape them and force thE mExIcan olEanDER
more branching which in turn creates more flower clusters. They in recent years, a variety of oleander has become
recommend pruning oleanders around September into early October. popular among local gardeners. The Mexican oleander is
Pruning any later in the year will cut off spring growth. a large shrub or small tree, depending on the amount of
Oleanders are very strong and can take a good amount of pruning. pruning and shaping done by the gardener. The blooms
Don’t be afraid to cut them back to whatever base height you may are usually yellow, but there are types with white or
want, especially if you feel they have lost control. orange flowers.
Please note that all parts of the oleander are toxic and must not be The Mexican oleander is native to tropical America,
ingested. it’s important to always sterilize pruning tools after use. notably Mexico, Cuba, and Columbia. The botanical
name of thevetia was adopted in honor of a french
common olEanDER challEngES monk, Andre Thevet, who is credited with its discovery
Sooty mold caused by material left by aphids, scale, mealy bugs, while traveling in South America. Courtesy images
whiteflies. (Treat with products containing neem oil to control the Note that this variety is also poisonous and not to be
pests) ingested. GM

56 | GALVESTON MONTHLY | MARCH 2019