Both the Oleander and Bougainvillea can be grown in my area but lately we have had some very strong freezes in the last two winters that killed off the ones we had planted out doors.

I suppose for that reason (cold) my mother didn't have success with them... Where she lives is much colder and it looks that Oleander can't support the cold that well... She was bringing the plants inside the house, but still... it's not the same...