Nerium Oleander in SW UK

Fellow medit-gardeners,

Could I ask some general advice re Nerium's? I realise this query
is specifically about their use in the UK but others of you in
different locations may well have valuable advice nonetheless for
which I would be grateful.

I am a recent member of this group and, from previous postings,
some of you may well recall that I am planting up a 2 acre mixed
woodland and full sun area in a sheltered coastal site in SW
England. I would like to try a couple of Oleander's since winter
frosts hardly ever get below -5 degrees centigrade here but
reading Arnold-Forster's "Shrubs for the milder counties" it
seems that there is a problem getting them to flower outside in
the UK. Given the right conditions, they grow very well but, it
seems, the flower buds they produce fail to open. The explanation
given by the author is that the new growth below the buds takes
up nutriment that would otherwise go to promote flowering and,
therefore, should be removed.

This advice, sure, was given many years ago since the book was
first published in 1948 but it's still a classic in its own
right. What's the general experience of others who might be in a
similar climatic situation and do they subscribe to this remedy?
Also, which varieties would be most suitable for this particular
locality - if any!

Regards to all,

Tristram Smyth
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