It is one of the most beautiful flowers that you can find in Africa and Arabia. Your name? Adenium obesum, although you probably know her more by Desert Rose.
This plant stores water in its trunk, which thickens as the years go by. In cultivation it is sometimes very demanding, but if you want to decorate your home with one, write down these tips and you will enjoy it for a long time.
The Rose of the Desert or Adenium obesum belongs to the Apocynaceae. It is native to tropical Africa, where it lives in regions with low rainfall. Have a very slow growth, reaching three meters in height after 20 years of age. Its trunk is succulent, since that is where the plant has its water reserves to be able to withstand long periods of drought. Its leaves are dark green, with a very defined central vein, and although in habitat it loses them during the hottest and driest months, in cultivation you can keep them throughout the year, or lose them in autumn-winter if the weather is cool.
Flowers are the main attraction of this plant. They are trumpet-shaped, with 5 large petals up to 6cm in diameter. They are pink or red, but currently you will also find cultivars that have two colors.
The Adenium is a very ornamental plant so it is not surprising that it is present in many collections of succulents. However, sometimes it is a bit demanding, and it is that it is very sensitive to cold and excess humidity. Thus, you can only have it outside if you live in a warm climate, with temperatures above 5ºC; otherwise you can keep it indoors, in a very bright room protected from drafts.
To prevent rotting, it is highly recommended to plant it in a very porous substrate, as it can be perlite and vermiculite in equal parts, and water very occasionally: about 2 times a week in summer and 1 every ten or fifteen days the rest of the year.
Enjoy your Desert Rose 🙂.