Nerium oleander Papa Gambetta

The 'Papa Gambetta' Oleander is a descendant of the Nerium oleander, a vigorous evergreen bush that is emblematic of Mediterranean gardens. This variety, particularly floriferous and compact, produces single flowers in a bright salmon pink colour, continuously blooming from June to October if the soil remains moist. The flowers are grouped in generous clusters, enhanced by an elegant dark green foliage that is attractive even when not in bloom. Easy to grow in any well-drained soil, resistant to salt spray and drought, its only weakness is its rather poor hardiness, especially in its early years. Its cultivation in open ground is best reserved for regions that do not experience excessively cold winters. This variety generally does not exceed 1.50m (4ft 11in) in height at maturity. For this reason, it will be perfect for container cultivation on a terrace, balcony, or even in a small garden, which can then be stored indoors during colder regions. It also forms compact and colourful hedges.

The many cultivars of Oleander available in the horticultural market are often hybrids between Nerium oleander subsp. oleander, which is found spontaneously around the Mediterranean, and Nerium oleander subsp. indicum, which is highly fragrant and found naturally from Iran to China. Their flowers are single, double, or even triple and come in an almost infinite range of colours, from white to pink, yellow and salmon, red, and even purple. The blue colour is the only one absent.

Nerium oleander is an evergreen bush in the Apocynaceae family, just like periwinkles or false jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides). 'Papa Gambetta' naturally forms a bushy and branching bush, with multiple stems and a generally rounded habit. Vigorous, it will reach an average height of 1.50m (4ft 11in) and a spread of 1m (3ft 4in) at maturity, with rapid growth. Its flexible branches, covered with grey bark, bear long, thick, and leathery evergreen leaves, with a slightly bluish green colour and a lighter underside. They measure 10 to 15cm (3.9 to 5.9in) in length and 3cm (1.2in) in width. In case of intense drought, the Nerium sheds some of its leaves, especially the older ones near the base of the stems. The flowering occurs in spring and again from late summer to autumn, or continuously from spring to autumn depending on the climate, lasting 4 to 5 months in moist soil. The flowers consist of a tube that opens into 5 dark salmon pink petals and are accompanied by thin and turbinate buds. They are grouped in corymbs, mainly at the terminal part of the branches that are 1 or 2 years old. This nectar-rich and honey-producing flowering is followed by the formation of long reddish pods that burst open at maturity, releasing a multitude of small seeds with a cluster of white bristles, dispersed by the wind. Be careful not to prune Oleander too severely: only stems that have reached a certain length bear flowers!

A symbol of resistance and generosity, Nerium oleander is an excellent hedge plant by the sea and also a magnificent specimen to plant in a warm location. Hardy down to -8/-10°C (17.6/14 °F) once well established, it will grow without any problems in any ordinary but well-drained soil. It can also be used as a hedge, regularly pruned, and combined with other evergreen bushes such as Laurustinus, Elaeagnus ebbingei, Mexican Orange Blossom, myrtles, Pittosporum tobira, and even Grevillea. In mild climates, it can be trained as a small tree by selecting the best stem and allowing it to grow to 1.50m (4ft 11in) or 2m (6ft 7in) from the ground before allowing it to branch out. The resulting specimens are particularly ornamental but require a very mild winter that will not cause them to be cut back to the ground: it would be a shame if severe frost destroyed several years of work in just a few hours! On the terrace, it will thrive in a large pot, alongside citrus trees, Grevillea, and other Oleanders. This cultivation method allows the tree to be stored in a very bright, cool, frost-free location in our very cold regions during winter.

The genus name, Nerium, is said to come from its ancient Greek name, Nerion, derived from Nereus, a sea god in Greek mythology. Another interpretation connects Nerium to neros, which means moist in Greek. The underlying liquid element in both interpretations is probably explained by the fact that wild Oleander never grows far from water. Its long roots anchor deeply into the ground to draw in freshness, even on the slopes of gorges or in the beds of dried-up rivers. As evidence of its incredible drought resistance, in arid regions like the Negev in Israel or the south of the Anti-Atlas in Morocco, Nerium oleander is one of the few shrubs, along with Acacia and Retama (a kind of broom), capable of withstanding the desert, anchored in the ravine walls.