Desert Azalea Adenium obesum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- a-DEN-ee-um oh-BE-sum
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Desert rose is a succulent perennial in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae) native to desert regions of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
Grow this plant in full sun in potting soil appropriate for cacti and succulents in a pot with several drainage holes. Allow the plant to dry between waterings but water during growing periods, though it is quite drought tolerant. Provide fertilizer in spring to encourage blooming. Bring this plant indoors when outside temperatures reach 55°F and decrease water while dormant.
From the thick, succulent, gray-green stem (called a caudex), branches arise with clusters of bright green leaves at their tips. In the summer bell- or funnel-shaped flowers are red to shades of pink or white. Double-flowered cultivars are available. The leaves can be green to variegated.
It is often used as a houseplant for its beautiful flowers and charming, small tree-like shape. Desert rose is also used in bonsai.
Quick ID Hints:
- bark is smooth and gray, more textural with age
- sap is milky and poisonous
- glossy, leathery, spirally arranged, gray-green to bright green leaves
- narrow, bell- or funnel-shaped, showy, pink, red, or white flowers that have 5 spreading lobes and 5 stamens
- slender, green, pod-like fruits that split open when mature and release seeds with tufted ends
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Possible insect pests include aphids, scales, and mealybugs. Fungal leaf spot is an occasional disease problem. Soils that are too wet will produce rots.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Adenium
- Species:
- obesum
- Family:
- Apocynaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Sub-Saharan Africa & Arabian Peninsula
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 9 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Poisonous
- Succulent
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Irregular
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Fruit Type:
- Follicle
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit consists of two, oblong, woody, hairy, follicles which are tapered at both ends and attached at the base. They are brown to grey-brown. They are full of small oblong seeds with tufts of dirty white to light brown hairs at both ends.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Trumpet
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 2 inches across red to shades of pink flowers have white or yellow throats, 5 petals, and 5 protruding stamens. Generally blooms in summer as a houseplant but may occasionally repeat.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblanceolate
- Ovate
- Spatulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 2-4 inch long leathery, fleshy, gray-green leaves appear at the stem tips in whorls. They can range in shape but are usually oblanceolate to spatulate. The venation is pinnate and reticulate.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- The bark is smooth and gray but with age, it becomes more textural.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Thick smooth fleshy gray-green stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Design Feature:
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Toxic latex causes contact dermatitis. All parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested. Vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, depression, irregular heartbeat, and possibly death.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Cardiac glycosides
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems
