Scientific Name
Adenium obesum subsp. somalense (I.B.Balf.) G.D.Rowley
Accepted Scientific Name
Adenium obesum (Forssk.) Roem. & Schult.
Synonym(s)
Adenium somalense
Scientific Classification
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Apocynoideae
Tribe: Nerieae
Subtribe: Neriinae
Genus: Adenium
Origin
Adenium obesum subsp. somalense is native to southern Somalia, Tanzania, and Kenya.
Description
Adenium obesum subsp. somalense, also known as Adenium somalense, is a succulent shrub or small tree with a swollen, often twisted trunk. It can grow up to 16.4 feet (5 m) tall. The leaves are narrowly linear, reddish-green with prominent white midrib and veins with silvery highlights.
The flowers are trumpet-shaped and range from white and pink to crimson red.
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.
Forms
Links
- Back to genus Adenium
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
Click on a photo to see a larger version.
