Adenium arabicum

Adenium arabicum:
Distinguished most by its outstanding caudex formation and relatively thick fleshy leaves, this is the most succulent and "desert like" species. Seeds are particularly large and give seedlings which rapidly form a nice hard caudex. The form of the plant varies and we are trying to select for superior trunk and branch formations.

An exceptional Adenium arabicum I bought in Bangok- it is not quite the cultivar Golden Crown, which seems to be a selection of arabicum similar to this one but with smaller leaves and even more branches.

There are several forms, as well documented in the literature. A form being sold in Bangkok initially as "Adenium socotranum" and now as the cultivar Golden Crown is, in its best selections, extremely caudiciform with a ring of branches topping the short, fat caudex. Leaves are relatively narrow and long (lanceolate), thinner in substance and glabrous. Flowers are typical, small and pink.

My own A. arabicum plants originate from one specimen plant I acquired from a respected collector in Ahmedabad, the late Mr.Vinubhai Goghari. He himself received the plant from a British collector before 1947 as a cutting. This plant is unusual in many respects- first it has reddish flowers (while in a leafless, dormant state in winter/spring), the stems and petioles have a distinct reddish coloration and the seed pods are fat and very often trifid- in fact this is the reason I bought this plant (for about $300) thinking its progeny would increase my seed production 50% in one go! It was not to be- I did not know about Adenium arabicum then and any way, this plant only sets seed with difficulty.

A young trifid seeds pod from Mr.Goghari's Adenium arabicum. Seeds are fat and relatively few in number. The flowers are red rather than pink.

The leaves of this plant are small, softly furry and distinctly succulent. Its best progeny show exceptional form and similar leaves which are often bluish tinged, making them the most attractive of Adeniums for overall plant form. Flowers are deeper pink than the parent even in our heat. Plants can be kept dry in winter for several months- this dormant period promotes blooming.

Adenium arabicum

arab186: Adenium arabicum, 2-year-old seedling of Yemen form. The plants from Yemen tend to have larger, rounder flowers than the Saudi Arabian ones.
Photo: Mark Dimmitt

Family:	Apocynaceae
Habitat:	Arabian Peninsula
Soil:	Mix
Water:	Medium
Sun:	Maximum
Thickness:	45 centimetres
Height:	4 meters
Flower:	Dark Pink/White
Reproduction:	Seeds/Cuttings
Pop names:	-
Synonyms:	-
Got it from:	-
Year:	-

It is found in the deserts of southern and western Arabian peninsula, in a well drained soil with some water and lots of sun. It will grow up to 45 centimetres in diameter, and the stems will grow up to two or even four meters in height. The flowers are dark pink and white.