Q. Whatever happened to all the oleander bushes that used to grow along the freeways? I used to see them everywhere, but now they’ve disappeared.

Oleander used to be a favorite Caltrans plant because it is fast-growing, tough, and required little care. Its dense growth habit made it ideal for freeway median strips, and its white or pink flowers gave us something pretty to look at while sitting in traffic.

Unfortunately, Oleander Leaf Scorch has killed off many oleander bushes. This disease, which affects the vascular system of susceptible plants, first appeared in eastern Riverside County in the 1990s and has spread throughout the southern United States. Once infected, the plant will become sickly and die within 3-5 years. The first symptoms of leaf scorch are similar to the symptoms of

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