Desert Rose

Adenium obesum

Apocynaceae

Adenium is a succulent bush with thick fleshy branches. The leaves are 3 to10 cm long and oval at their extremities.

The plant flowers during the warm months. The flowers are in shades of pink, rose white or white. They are beautiful 2-inch pink open-trumpet shaped flowers.

It prefers to be kept in a place where there is full sun.

Adenium likes warm temperature.

As it is very prone to rotting, they require a gritty, well-drained soil.

The plant is drought tolerant.

Allow the plant to dry between waterings. Often the base of the stem become soft when the plant requires watering. Increase watering when plants are in flower or actively growing. Decrease watering in winter.

Leaf drop in a common sign of over watering.

The plant may be attacked by aphids and mealybugs. Use a water spray or soap solution to keep it clean of pests. Never use chemicals.

It has the ability to grow from 6 1/2 to 10 feet.

Apply balanced liquid fertilizer monthly.

New shoots can be pruned regularly to produce new branches. More branches mean more flowers which are very attractive.

Propagation is done from seeds and cuttings. In case of cuttings, the cuttings should be allowed to dry for a few days before placing into a simple sand-peat mix.

Leaves normally fall in winter. It is a sign to keep the soil mixture on the dry side.

Adenium is generally used as an accent plant.

Pot plant