Question
I had a six year old, fabulous orleander which suddenly started drying out and one week later was dead. Next to it, two months later, is a five year old hedge-type shrub (sorry don't know name) in a line of three others.  Also was thriving until a week ago, now leaves drying out fast, almost dead. Further up the land in a line about 20mtrs away last year I had a pepper tree flowering and beautiful in it's third year, then one week later it was dead, after suffering the same symptoms.  I'm in the mountains in Southern Spain.  Everything has sufficient water but not overwatered and drainage is good.  I don't believe it's anything to do with the weather conditions.  The other orleanders and hedge plants look fine so far but there is never any pre-warning and nothing visible on the plant itself.

I look forward to your reply.  Thank you very much.

Answer
Hi Jacquie...with some checking this is what I found out what is happening in Spain. To my knowledge we do not have this problem here yet. You will have to check with someone in your area as what to do if this is the problem....

During the autumn of 2003, a new disease was detected in oleander (Nerium oleander L.) nurseries in Valencia and Murcia in eastern Spain. Affected leaves showed ovoid or ellipsoid necrotic spots. Necrotic lesions were also observed on stems and lateral shoots that resulted in severe blight and defoliation. In some cases, severe infections caused the death of plants.