Adenium spp.
desert roses
Overview
Adenium spp. is a genus of about five to twelve species of succulent shrubs and small trees in the family Apocynaceae, native to arid regions of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Plants are built around a swollen, water-storing base, or caudex, that tapers into thick branches, growing 1 to 10 feet (0.3 to 3 m) tall depending on species and age. The smooth gray bark and bulbous trunk give older specimens a bonsai-like silhouette. Glossy, spirally arranged leaves cluster toward the branch tips and drop during drought or cool weather. The trumpet-shaped flowers are 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 cm) across, with five spreading lobes in shades of pink, red, white, and bicolors, opening over a long warm season. All parts contain toxic cardiac glycosides, and the milky sap can cause skin and eye irritation and is poisonous if swallowed. The genus grows in rocky, sandy, sharply drained ground in hot, dry climates. A limitation is sensitivity to cold and wet: plants are damaged below about 40 F (4 C) and rot in soil that stays wet, restricting outdoor culture to frost-free regions.
Native Range
Adenium spp. is native to arid and semi-arid regions of sub-Saharan Africa, northeastern Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula. Species grow on rocky hills, sandy plains, and dry scrub, often where rainfall is low and seasonal.Suggested Uses
Adenium spp. is grown as a container and bonsai-style specimen for its swollen caudex and trumpet flowers, and as a landscape shrub in frost-free desert and tropical gardens. Plants are used on sunny patios, in rock gardens, and in succulent collections where they can be protected from cold and wet.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 10'
Width/Spread1' - 5'
Bloom Information
Adenium spp. flowers over a long warm season, mainly spring through autumn and nearly year-round in hot, frost-free climates. Bloom is heaviest when plants receive strong light and warmth. Flowering pauses during the cool or dry months when plants drop their leaves and rest.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
pink, red, and whiteFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Across the genus, Adenium spp. grows in full sun and sharply drained, gritty soil, with a soil pH of about 6.0 to 7.5. Plants store water in the caudex and are watered thoroughly when the soil dries, then allowed to dry again, with watering reduced sharply in cool or dormant periods to prevent rot. Warmth is needed for active growth, and plants are kept above about 40 F (4 C). In containers a fast-draining cactus mix is used, and the caudex is kept above the soil line. The milky sap contains toxic cardiac glycosides that irritate skin and eyes. Propagation is by seed or cuttings, though cutting-grown plants lack the swollen base.Pruning
Plants are pruned in spring before active growth to shape the branches and encourage a fuller, more branched habit. Cuts bleed milky, toxic sap, which is allowed to dry. Removing branch tips promotes branching and more flowering wood.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons