Adenium obesum (Desert rose)

Homegrown plants: Desert Rose. Not only does it bloom in beautiful pink 2" flowers, but it also has an interesting caudex which attracts everyone's attention. Forms a caudex and begins to branch and flower at an early age. Great plant for bonsai.

Adenium obesum is actually a succulent member of the Oleander family. It originates in East Africa, from regions where it rains frequently in the summer, but is very dry in winter.

Blooming time: Spring, and a second time in September.

Culture: Desert Rose needs to have a soil mix of sand or brick chips mixed into regular soil, or a cactus mix. The soil should dry completely between waterings. For this reason clay pots are better suited for growing Desert Rose than plastic pots. Water sparingly during winter months.

Propagation: Desert Rose can be grown from seed or cuttings. The best time for either method is in the spring.

Seed: Scatter seed into a mixture of sand/soil. Seeds germinate easily, and seedlings grow without any special attention.

Cuttings: Propagation by cutting is easy. Cut end shoots and let dry for a day or two. Be careful of the toxic sap. Stick shoots into a pot of moist soil, and provide bottom heat. Keep soil moist.

Warning: All parts of Desert Rose are poisonous and should be kept out of reach of children and animals.

Recommended Temperature Zone:
sunset: 23-24
USDA: 11-12

Minimum Avg. Temperature: 55°F (12°C)

Heat Tolerance: Excellent

Sun Exposure: Full sun

Origin: Eastern Africa to southern Arabia

Growth Habits: Shrub to 5 feet tall (1.5 m)

Watering Needs: Water when growing, keep on the dry side in winter, needs perfect drainage, very rot prone

Propagation: Cuttings, seed

The desert rose produce a massive stem when growing older, but will start blooming when quite young, at only 6 inches tall (15 cm). It makes a nice Bonsai. As the related Oleander, its sap is poisonous.

A highly variable species with a vast range of plant, leaf and flower forms. Generally self sterile, though some clones do set seed when alone. Leaves can be small or large, smooth or tomentose; growth compact and bushy or tall and lanky; caudex short and fat or tall and narrow and flower color ranging from pure white through the typical pink to deep, almost blackish red.

A pure white selection (Khao Pra Pa Phan) from Thailand and a deep, almost blackish red first flower from one of our red crosses. The two show the color range that Adenium obesum can reach.

Links:
The Adenium Page

Check for Field Collection numbers at Ralph Martin's Site