Adenium obesum
A drought-tolerant succulent with a swollen caudex and bright trumpet-shaped flowers, native to Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, sun-loving and commonly grown as a patio plant or bonsai.
Common Names
Desert Rose, Impala Lily, Sabi Star, Mock Azalea, Desert Azalea
Summary
Desert Rose is a drought-tolerant succulent shrub or small tree native to Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, with thick, swollen basal caudex and branches bearing leaves spirally arranged toward shoot tips that may be shed during dry periods; showy tubular flowers are pink to red with a white throat and appear in clusters.
Culture favors full sun and well-drained soil and is frost sensitive, with hardiness in USDA zones 10a–11; it can be grown in containers or as a bonsai, and propagation is by seed or cuttings, with grafted varieties used for more flower color variety; sap is toxic and parts are poisonous, so keep away from children and pets; pests include aphids, mealybugs, scales, and spider mites; avoid overwatering to prevent root rot; repot every 2–3 years in spring; fertilize during growth; used ornamentally in landscapes and containers in warm climates.
Lifecycle
Annual in the North, Perennial in frost-free areas
Height
6-10 feet
Spread
3-5 feet
Hardiness Zones
Zones 11-12
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full sun; tolerates partial sun and partial shade; can adapt to full sun with gradual acclimation.
Soil Type
Well-draining soil, typically sandy or cactus/succulent mix.
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil
Soil pH
6.0-7.0, neutral to slightly acidic
Bloom Color
Red, pink
Bloom Time
Summer
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
No fall foliage color; drops its leaves in fall.
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
About 12 inches per year, fast-growing
Seasons of Interest
Spring and Summer
Propagation Methods
Seeds; Cuttings; Grafting; In vitro plant tissue culture
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Roem. & Schult.
- Publication
- Syst. Veg., ed. 15 bis 4: 411 (1819)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Gentianales
- Family
- Apocynaceae
- Genus
- Adenium
Synonyms
Adenium arabicum Adenium arboreum Adenium coetaneum Adenium honghel Adenium micranthum Adenium obesum subsp. socotranum Adenium socotranum Adenium somalense var. caudatipetalum Adenium somalense var. crispum Adenium speciosum Cameraria obesa Nerium obesum Adenium obesum subsp. somalense Adenium somalense Adenium tricholepis