John, good luck with your oleander. You might want to protect it during very cold spells this winter. For the future, I always found that oleanders grown under regular irrigation were much more prone to winter damage/kill than those established in more xeric conditions. I'd also avoid all fertilization after July, as well.

Oleanders are one of the plants I truly miss from my coastal years in the Lowcountry.

Rhizo, are you advising protection this winter because I'm planting it in August instead of April or May, thus giving it less time to establish before winter? I'm willing to do that for its first winter, but I'm hoping to find an oleander that will be hardy & not burn at least down to the mid to upper teens......with no protection. I'm definitely going to plant it in a high spot in my garden for good drainage.

Yes, that's my line of thinking, John. And do everything you can think of to make sure that the newest season's growth is very well hardened off before the onset of winter.

I'll be very curious to hear how this plant does for you.

I like Oleander. Enjoy seeing along the coastal areas. We planted a nice one a few years back and winter zapped it. Kilt it dead!