If your oleander flowers have been successfully pollinated, you’ll start to see “follicles” (seed pods) forming. These pods house the seeds, which you can actually use to grow brand-new plants!
How Oleander Pods Develop from Blooms
The fruit of the oleander develops directly from those lovely blossoms once they’ve been pollinated and fertilized.
What Do Oleander Seed Pods Look Like?
You can spot these pods pretty easily by looking for these characteristics:
- They look a lot like long green beans or pods.
- They usually grow to about 4 inches long, though some can get even bigger.
- They start out bright green.
- As they ripen, they’ll eventually turn a deep shade of brown.
Using Seeds for Propagation
Inside those pods are the oleander seeds, which are your ticket to propagating the plant. If you’re planning on growing oleander from scratch, you’ll need to be patient and wait for the pods to fully ripen on the branch.
The Ripening Process
Here’s the tricky part: these pods need specific warmth and weather to mature, which doesn’t always happen naturally in every climate. It’s actually pretty common for the pods to wither away before they’ve finished developing their seeds. You’ll know they’re officially ready when they turn completely brown and start to crack open along the sides.
Creating the Right Conditions for Ripening
If your local weather isn’t quite tropical enough, you can give your oleander a helping hand. Try moving it into a warm, bright sunroom or a heated greenhouse. You can even set up a grow light to mimic a longer summer. This little trick extends the “warm season” and gives the fruit the extra time and heat it needs to finish ripening.
To Prune or Not to Prune?
Growing these seed pods takes a ton of energy. If the plant is focusing on seeds, it has less “fuel” left over to produce new flowers. So, if you want a bush covered in blooms, it’s best to snip the pods off early. This redirects the plant’s energy back into flowering. However, if you’re up for the challenge of growing oleander from seed, go ahead and leave them on to mature!
