Adenium for a Profusion of Pink and Red Flowers

Adenium obesum is an evergreen succulent plant when grown in a tropical environment and a semi-evergreen plant in more temperate zones. It is an easy plant to get to know as there is only one Adenium in the family genus with about twelve species or subspecies, all with the same growing requirements. Adenium belongs to the Apocynaceae family alongside Plumeria and Nerium Oleander and all three have similar flowers. This long flowering plant is also known as Desert Rose, Sabi Star and Kudu.

Growing an Adenium Plant

As Adenium is also widely known as Desert Rose this name gives the perfect indication for the conditions required for growing this colorful plant.

• Adenium likes full sun to light shade.

• It likes dry conditions and even tolerates being completely dry for long spells at a time, especially during the winter months.

• Water sparingly but during the growing season it will need water on a regular basis

• Use a gravel/perlite based compost to ensure free drainage.

• It will grow freely outdoors but will succumb to frost.

• Adenium likes high temperatures and will do well in U.S. zones 9, 10, 11 or above. With care it will tolerate zone 7 and 8.

Where to Grow a Desert Rose Plant

Desert Rose plants can be grown in the open garden, in pots and tubs on patios and as a house plant.

• For houseplant success give as much light and heat as possible by placing it on the windowsill.

• For open garden success select a sunshine site with some wind protection and ensure good drainage.

• For patio success it is best to use a tub or urn with a wide receptacle and the reason for this is that the Adenium trunk can sometimes swell beyond all proportions to the container.

Adenium Flowers and Stems.

Adenium plants can sometimes be in full bloom with not a leaf in sight, just a profusion of flowers on a pot full of twisted gnarled stems. The stems are succulent and the flowers are seen in red, pink, white and even variegated. They are funnel shaped with a faint yellow interior just like Plumeria flowers.

Pruning and Propagating the Desert Rose

Pruning is rarely necessary provided the site was chosen carefully in the first instance. Prune to keep the plant in shape and to prevent it from becoming too spindly. Propagation is done by seed, cuttings, air-layering and grafting.

• Seeds can either be bought or harvested from existing stock. The seed pods are about 3″ long and care must be taken at harvest time as the pods can open unexpectedly and the seeds can take flight.

• Cuttings also give good results. Take a cutting, about 4″ and dip it in rooting compound and plant it immediately. Keep it moist.

• Air-layering is done by cutting through the outer bark or skin of the stem but not all the way through it and wrapping the cut section in a plastic bag filled with wet moss. When roots appear sever the stem just below the plastic and plant the new root ball in fresh compost.

• Graft new seedlings onto old rootstock by cutting into the branch tip and inserting a seedling then bind the cut with cling-film. Once the seedling has begun to grow the film can be removed.

• Care must be taken when cutting the stems as the sap is toxic.

Whether called Adenium obesum or Desert Rose this plant with its profusion of flowers, gnarled stems and fat trunks will enchant any garden with the minimum of effort. It can be ignored for long periods of time and yet with a little care it will bloom for up to nine months each year.