Scientific Name
Adenium obesum subsp. oleifolium (Stapf) G.D. Rowley
Common Names
Desert Rose
Synonyms
Adenium oleifolium, Adenium lugardiae, Adenium somalense var. angustifolium
Scientific Classification
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Apocynoideae
Tribe: Nerieae
Subtribe: Neriinae
Genus: Adenium
Description
Adenium obesum subsp. oleifolium is a succulent shrub with a large tuberous, mostly buried stem from which the aerial branches arise. It grows up to 16 inches (40 cm) tall. Branches are densely pubescent when young, becoming glabrous with age. Leaves are olive-green leaves, distinctly long and narrow and crowded at the tips of the branches. They are up to 4.4 inches (11 cm) long and up to 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) wide. The terminal inflorescence carries a few pinkish, salmon, or pale pink to red flowers that appear with the leaves.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 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. 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 succulent, make sure the soil is dry before repotting, then gently remove the plant from the pot. Knock away the old soil from the roots, making sure to remove any rotted or dead roots in the process. Treat any cuts with a fungicide and antibacterial solution. 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.
See more at How to Grow and Care for a Desert Rose (Adenium obesum).
Origin
Adenium obesum subsp. oleifolium is native to Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.
Links
- Back to genus Adenium
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
