Growing Oleanders from Cuttings: Tips and Advice

Water, light, and a few tips are all you need to grow new oleanders from cuttings

Co-authored by Ben Barkan

Last Updated: May 11, 2025 Approved

Oleanders (Nerium oleander) are a species of flowering bush in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae). With a few simple steps, you can easily grow more of them.

Steps

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The cuttings should not be "busy" with leaves. There should also be no flowers or flower buds on the cutting.^{[1]
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This helps encourage root formation in the next step.^{[2]
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Place the cut end of the cuttings in the water, and keep in a shady spot indoors.^{[3]
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Just try to keep the water level about the same.
Early signs of rooting include the formation of a couple small bumps or bulges on the stem, just below the lowest set of leaf nodes. Once these bumps occur, rooting will occur shortly after.
Once the roots reach about 1/2 to 1 inch long (this will happen very quickly once roots have started forming), plant it in a pot filled with potting mix, at about the same depth as the water line was on the cutting.
If you live north of zone 9, keep your oleander in a pot indoors in the winter, as winter temperatures in those climates will kill it.^{[4]
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I have done all as prescribed, it has been two days. My cutting seems to wilt soon. What could be the reason for this?

Ninox

Top Answerer

The reason for wilting is watering. The soil must remain wet, but you don't have to water too much to help roots to develop.

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If frost burns the tips of the plant, what do I do?

Ninox

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You just need to remove dead parts of the plant. It will likely grow new branches and return to health.

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Tips

if you experience trouble with your cuttings rotting, try again, but this time, change the water in the jar every few days to discourage growth of microorganisms.

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Warnings

Oleanders are very poisonous. Do not keep them where small children and pets can access it without supervision, as the reported lethal dose has been reported as low as one leaf by ingestion.^{[5]
X
Research source} If ingested, go to a hospital for treatment. Inducing vomiting has been found to be a generally ineffective means of treatment, and is therefore not recommended.^{[6]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health

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