Since it's marinally un-hardy there even with the climate change, you may have to mail order it. Do you have a warm microclimate to give it some protection during winter?

Hi Frankie and welcome to Tennessee!

I am in Knoxville and have two oleanders in the garden. One is a hardy pink (name is escaping me) that was bought at a nursery in South Carolina. We have had it for 4 years with no protection and out in the open. It has never offered to die back on us and blooms profusely all summer! On the other hand, we have a red that was bought at the local Lowe's and it died back to the ground it's first winter, but bounced back in the spring from the ground. It grew 4 feet and bloomed well last summer. Again this year, it has died back and it is still too early to see if it made it again.

By all means, try one! You may want to cruise the local nurseries for one and I would even ask them if they know where you might find one.

Rebecca

That is why I posted that I am in Knoxville, so that he can take that into consideration.

I would say go for it! If it is a plant that you would love to have in your garden give it a try. It would not be the end of the world if it doesn't make it. I don't give up until I have killed something at least three times. That is the fun and excitement of having zonal denial, having something in the garden that your neighbors don't have!

Just bought a hardy white at (of all places) Kmart! Canna is right, they may die to the ground some years.

Oh, I would love to have a white! K-mart here I come!

I just remembered, there is a poster here that lives in Nashville that I am pretty sure grows oleanders and other zone bending goodies like palms. Search for the name nashvillejon at the bottom of the forum page and you will bring up past posts from him.

Rebecca