Adenium oleifolium

Adenium oleifolium Stapf (=Adenium lugardii N.E.Br.) occurs in the interior of southem Africa, in the Kalahari Desert of southern Botswana, South Africa, and eastern Namibia. It is a small, slow-growing species with a subterranean caudex rarely more than a foot in diameter (and this only with great age). Both roots and stems rise toward the surface; the above-ground stems are not thickened noticeably and are seldom as much as two feet tall (Plaizier, 1980). The leaves are very long and narrow with nearly parallel sides, but do not tend to fold upwards along the midrib as do those of Adenium swazicum.

The flowers are small, about 2-5 cm (1 inch) in diameter with a wide floral tube. The petals are pink and the tube white or gold with faint nectar guides. Plaizier (1980) describes the corollas as, "bright scarlet or red to pink," but we have seen only pink in cultivation. Plants bloom for a couple of months in summer. Pollinated follicles often take more than a year to mature; the seeds are much larger than those of other Adenium. Adenium oleifolium is only occasionally offered in the trade. It is easy to grow, but is quite slow to become a specimen.

Adenium oleifolium

Detailed information on Adenium (Adenium oleifolium)

Family: Apocynaceae Genus: Adenium (a-DEE-nee-um) (Info) Species: oleifolium (oh-lee-ih-FOH-lee-um) (Info) Category: Tropicals/Tender Perennials Cactus and Succulents Height: Unknown - Tell us Spacing: Unknown - Tell us Hardiness: Unknown - Tell us Sun Exposure: Full Sun Sun to Partial Shade Danger: All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested Bloom Color: Pale Pink Pink White/Near White Bloom Time: Unknown - Tell us Foliage: Unknown - Tell us Other details: This plant is suitable for growing indoors Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping Suitable for growing in containers Soil pH requirements: Unknown - Tell us Propagation Methods: Unknown - Tell us Seed Collecting: Unknown - Tell us

Profile:

No positives
No neutrals
No negatives

from northen Cap area in South Africa, south eastern Namibia and south of Bostwana. The caracteristic leaves are allmost green-grey and glaucous, 10cm long and 0.5 to 1.5 cm wide. The flowers are dark-pink.

Adenium obesum ssp. oleifolium