Adenium obesum

Desert rose

Apocynaceae

The desert rose is an exciting, exquisite pot plant with a distinctive growth habit, magnificent blooms and excellent durability.

The desert rose grows wild in the desert areas of East Africa. During the rainy season, it stores water and nourishment in its distinctive stem, enabling it to survive during a long period of no rainfall. In its natural habitat, the plant loses all its leaves during the dry season. On the other hand, it produces a profusion of brightly coloured flowers in shades of red and white. It is an amazing sight to see these big, gnarled, sculptural stems covered with just an abundance of colourful flowers.

EASY TO LOOK AFTER!
Tolerates direct sunlight and temperatures of up to 40° C. A good location would be a south-facing window or the conservatory.

Letting the plant dry out in between watering will do no harm; in fact, it prefers to be kept on the dry side. Apply fertiliser during the summer months when the plant is in full growth.

During the winter months, the plant may start losing its leaves. This means that it is entering its dormant period. If this happens, stop watering altogether, and do not resume watering until the plant starts producing new shoots in the spring. It is possible to avoid the dormant period by providing sufficient light, heat and moisture throughout the year.