Adenium Obesum or Desert Rose is from Apocynaceae family and is a species native to tropical Africa and Arabia.
Adenium is known by many other names including, Sabi Star, Kudu & Impala lily to name but a few but the most common or 'main stream' name (basically what my mum calls them) is Desert Rose.
As far as growing Adenium in pots is concerned they absolutely thrive and are totally suited to this life making them fantastic houseplants. Young plants of this variety have a small, ovoid caudex and old specimens have large caudexes often looking disproportionate to the rest of the plant.
Old plants, without any training can look like a bonsai although this is "hit & miss" yet bonsai can also be achieved intentionally by occasionally lifting the plant to leave some roots exposed and after a while the plant begins to take on the appearance of a miniature but very old haggard tree, however patience is required.
The curious & unusual form of the plant is further enhanced by some of the most showiest flowers of all succulents, in my experience the Adenium Obesum being the forerunner when it comes to quantity of bloom to the point that it may appear as if your flowers have flowers of their own. The flower size's average at about 5-8cm in diameter although there can be a wide scope of variety with hybrids or grafted Adenium.
The plant is a spreading bush which in it's native locations and environment can reach more than a couple of meters in height, with a thick, fleshy, twisted rounded base that thins gradually upwards, often rigid and upright in character, with spreading, short branch characteristics. The leaves are fleshy & crowded at the top of the branches.
Adeniums are drought-enduring and can survive for a couple of months or more without being watered as they are able to store nutrients and life giving water in their caudex. Over-flooding of the pot while watering will probably lead to rotting of the stem base and roots. Try to think of excess water as Kryptonite to Adenium.
The Adenium is considered as potentially semi-evergreen so if you are able to keep it warm and well watered, plants will grow and often flower throughout the winter. Under these almost ideal conditions they may only undergo a few weeks of semi-dormancy, briefly shedding their leaves. A very good attribute about the Adenium is that most insects don't really have much interest in attacking them although some do and they are not immune from diseases and rot either. There are many treatments available to aid and cure plants that are diseased we offer a good selection which are proven to work.
Many people we have spoken with over the years have had preconceptions about Adenium as they wrongly thought they are a specialist plant yet where as they do need to be treated a little different than normal house plants there are no specialist skills required other than common sense just give them what they want and they will do the rest. Needless to say that many of the people with the misconceptions are now collectors or own at least one Adenium Plant.
Very easy to grow, very easy to care for, loves living in pots and does not mind being root bound, extremely beautiful and unusual, lots of vibrant and vivid floral displays yet quite strangely and we suppose sadly they are not as popular as one might expect.
We are very proud to be here to promote Adeniums and bring them to the masses.