Native & adapted
Yellow oleander
Cascabela thevetiaA glossy evergreen screen or small tree with yellow trumpet flowers—beautiful and heat tolerant, but dangerously toxic in every part.
Right plant, right place
Will Yellow oleander grow at your Arizona property?
All parts are highly toxic if eaten. Do not plant where children, pets, livestock, or falling seeds create an exposure risk; wear protection when pruning.
Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a, Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b, Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b.
Light
Sun exposure
Full sun for dense form and strong flowering.
Water
Irrigation
Low once established. Deep, separated irrigation supports flowering without keeping the root zone wet.
Choose the actual plant, not only the label
Cultivars & selections
Yellow- and peach-flowered forms exist, but toxicity is unchanged. This is a risk-based site decision, not simply a flower-color choice.
Yellow-flowered form
Cascabela thevetiaMature size8–15 ft tall × 6–12 ft wide
Best forControlled-access ornamental screens
The classic golden-yellow form. Every plant part, including seed, sap, and foliage, is poisonous.
Peach / apricot-flowered form
Cascabela thevetia selectionMature size8–15 ft tall × 6–12 ft wide
Best forWarm-color ornamental accents
Flower color varies, but mature size, management, and severe toxicity remain essentially the same.
Planting & stewardship
How to help Yellow oleander thrive
- 1
Evaluate poisoning risk before planting; choose a safer species if access cannot be controlled.
- 2
Wear gloves and eye protection for pruning and keep sap off skin.
- 3
Collect fallen fruit and seed where people or animals could reach them.
- 4
Train as a shrub or small tree with selective cuts rather than repeated shearing.