Oleander Deaths Not the Apocalypse
- Eric Grimm
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
A mention of decimating oleanders has caused one Los Lagos Vistas couple to feel like they are living in the middle of a dystopian novel.
A project to dig up the poisonous plants to beautify the Lake Havasu Avenue frontage stirred a fear that the complex will lose the “greenery and lush vegetation” that’s “still advertised in every single current realtor [sic] listing.” The email writers believe when they return next fall Los Lagos Vistas will be a wasteland. Barren with nothing green. Just dead cattle skulls on the shriveled remains of the former En Gedi Oasis.
While feeling the rage, the email also took aim at Allo for stepping on plants, the city’s “monstrous water-wasting developments,” and the HOA’s apparent imperialism invading townhome areas to destroy forests of oleander survivors.
Another resident wasn’t as dramatic, mentioning they like the bushes and don’t think anyone will die from the poisonous plant.
To avoid oleander-derangement syndrome, be assured that oleanders have not been identified as foreign cartels and targeted for destruction. The oleanders along the property frontage were dried out and sagging, and the HOA believed sprucing it up would make the entry more welcoming and attractive. The added curb appeal seems a bonus for property values—like every Realtor’s ad apparently mentions.
The truth is the plants are invasive. The Lake Havasu City arborist says they survive in hot climates because their roots go deep, extracting water from the soil and sucking away available moisture from other plants. The plants are invasive because they’re so tough. Oleander is the official flower of Hiroshima because they were the first plants to bloom after the 1945 atom-bomb devastation.
Oleanders attract cockroaches and termites, along with other pests. If the roots get under foundations, they create pathways for critters to get into your home.
Wikipedia reports that Pliny and Dioscorides called oleander berries an effective antidote for venomous snake bites if mixed with rue and drunk. However, drinking rue and oleander after a venomous snake bite might expedite mortality. Oleanders also have been used to seek out spiritual beings in dark rites. So, they do have a reputation.
The HOA is working diligently to ensure Los Lagos Vistas remains green even during blistering heat waves and extended drought. As of April 8, approximately 99% of Arizona is under drought conditions and 1% is “abnormally dry.” Another source reports that May 2024 through March 2025 was both the hottest and driest for Arizona since state officials began tracking figures in 1895.
The HOA is working to follow Lake Havasu City’s recommendations for plants that do well in the desert. The HOA approved work to begin this month to remove a portion of grassy areas along the wash and in the townhome area to reduce water use. The xeriscape project, co-funded with a city grant, should cut water use and add colorful plants.
With all the golfers in Los Lagos Vistas, green grass is precious, and the HOA is working to ensure the grass we have is healthy and attractive. It invested funds for professional advice and implemented a winter-rye grass program as part of the solution.
So, please don’t think the HOA is running bulldozers across the grass and tearing out all the plants. The goal remains to keep Los Lagos Vistas beautiful and lush as possible. The HOA’s vision is to be the city’s premier condominium and townhome community with a mission to create a safe, vibrant community that enhances property values and contributes to an excellent quality of life.
Some oleanders may die in the process. But other plants will rise from the dystopia.
A sidenote: The recent pool makeover emptied water into the sewer system as the city requests so it can be reclaimed for irrigation and not wasted.