**Oleander (Nerium oleander)** is a popular evergreen shrub recognized for its vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers. Though it's renowned for its beauty, all parts of the oleander plant are extremely toxic if ingested, making it one of the most poisonous commonly grown garden plants.
**Description:**
Oleander grows in a shrub-like manner and can reach heights of up to 20 feet, though most remain around 8-12 feet tall. It boasts long, slender, dark green leaves and clusters of flowers in shades of pink, red, white, or yellow.
**Symbolism:**
Oleander symbolizes caution, beauty, and grace. Its dual nature, being both beautiful and dangerous, also represents the balance of beauty and harm.
**Care:**
Oleanders thrive in well-draining soil and full sun, making them suitable for drier climates. They're drought-tolerant once established but will benefit from regular watering when young.
**Uses:**
Apart from its ornamental purpose, oleander has limited practical uses due to its high toxicity. Historically, it has been employed for medicinal purposes, but extreme care is needed because of its poisonous nature.