Oleander hedge

Nerium oleander. An Old World species that's so widely distributed its exact place of origin is uncertain. It's been extensively planted as an ornamental in the warmer parts of the US. It works well for highway edging because it's tolerant to automotive fumes. The hedge here separates an orchard from California state route 88, just outside the little town of Lockeford. The inset shows a close-up of the blossoms. All parts of the plant are toxic, containing compounds similar to digitalis. Per Snopes, however, the tales of people dying from cooking hot dogs on oleander twigs are urban legends. It's not _that_ toxic! Its toxicity does keep the deer depredation down, tho. Map location is appoximate.