Adenium obesum

RHS Plant Profile

desert rose

RHS

Synonyms

Adenium obesum 'Desert Rose'
Adenium honghel
Adenium coetaneum
Adenium arabicum
Adenium obesum var. obesum

Cactus Succulent

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A succulent, shrubby perennial with very swollen stem-like caudex tapering to a branched apex bearing small clusters of red, pink or white flowers, which open before the ovate leaves

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1A

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Apocynaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Pets (dogs, cats): Harmful if eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Adenium are shrub-like, succulent perennials with a bottle-shaped, swollen caudex, branched at the apex and bearing terminal clusters of simple leaves, with small salver-shaped flowers
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Arabia, Tropical Africa

How to Grow

Cultivation

Under glass grow in peat-free, loam-based potting compost with added sharp sand in full light with shade from hot sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown as soon as ripe at 21°C (70°F). Root cuttings from non-flowering shoots in summer with bottom heat

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Low Maintenance

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids

Diseases

Generally disease-free