Scientific Name
Adenium arabicum I.B.Balf.
Accepted Scientific Name
Adenium obesum (Forssk.) Roem. & Schult.
Common Name(s)
Adan Bush, Desert Rose, Elephant's Foot
Scientific Classification
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Apocynoideae
Tribe: Nerieae
Subtribe: Neriinae
Genus: Adenium
Origin
Adenium arabicum is native to Yemen and Saudi Arabia. It is not accepted as a separate species and is treated as a synonym of Adenium obesum.
Description
Adenium arabicum is an attractive succulent with a swollen base and short branches, resembling a miniature baobab tree. It can grow up to 16.4 feet (5 m) tall. The leaves are shiny dark green to bluish-green above and dull green below and arranged in a rosette on the ends of the branches. They are larger than the leaves of Adenium obesum and can measure up to 7.2 inches (18 cm) long and up to 3.2 inches (8 cm) wide.
The flowers range from pink to red and appear from spring to fall.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b: from 30 °F (−1.1 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
These are not difficult plants to grow well, provided they get enough sunlight and warmth. However, like all succulents, they cannot tolerate sitting in water, and if you err, do it on the side of too little water. Use a specialized soil mix designed for cacti and succulents.
Repot as needed, preferably during the warm season. To repot a Desert Rose, ensure the soil is dry before repotting, then gently remove the plant from the pot. Knock away the old soil from the roots, removing any rotted or dead roots. Treat any cuts with a fungicide and antibacterial solution. Next, place the plant in its new pot and backfill with potting soil, spreading the roots out as you repot. Leave the plant dry for a week or so, then begin to water lightly to reduce the risk of root rot.
The Desert Rose is typically propagated by seed. If your plant develops a seed pod, sow the seeds as soon as possible after the pod ripens to maximize the chances of germination. Desert Rose can also be propagated from stem cuttings, but this plant often fails to develop the characteristic (and highly desired) bulbous stem.
Links
- Back to genus Adenium
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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