ornamentalFamily: ApocynaceaeGenus: AdeniumSpecies: obesum

Cultivar

Desert Rose

Adenium obesum

Adenium obesum, commonly known as the Desert Rose, is a prized succulent known for its dramatic architectural shape and long-lasting floral display. Its thickened, bulbous base—or caudex—serves as a water-storage organ, allowing it to thrive in hot, dry conditions. When grown in optimal conditions, it produces beautiful clusters of blooms atop leathery, dark green foliage, making it a focal point in any sun-drenched collection.

The Desert Rose is a striking tropical succulent famous for its swollen, woody caudex and vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers. It makes an excellent, low-maintenance ornamental for bright sunny windows or outdoor patios.

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Current nursery inventory and 18 / 36 / 72 pricing will appear here when available.

Cultivar Story

Start with Inspiration. Grow Your Aspiration.

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Growing Inspiration

Inspiration for future Agardeni growing environments.

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Marketplace Plant

A realistic representation of the starter plants offered in 18, 36, and 72 plant quantities.

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Aspirational Garden

Grow your aspirational plan into an inspirational garden.

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Plant Detail

A closer look at the fruit, flower, foliage, or mature defining characteristics of this cultivar.

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Repotting / Start Growing

Begin with a starter plant and establish it in a larger pot using quality potting soil with beneficials and fertilizer.

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Start · Plan · Grow

Start with real plants. Plan with current marketplace availability. Grow your aspirational garden.

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Plant Profile

Grow Desert Rose with confidence

Key growing information first, with the complete reviewed cultivar profile available when you want it.

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Sun

Requires full sun to partial sun; at least 6 hours of bright, direct sunlight daily is recommended for best health and blooming.

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Water

Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. Reduce watering significantly during the cooler winter months.

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Mature size

2-5 feet tall, 1-3 feet wide

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Hardiness

11-12

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Growth habit

Upright, succulent shrub with a thick, swollen base.

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Plant type

succulent

View Plant Data

Care, size, flowering, climate, soil, health, and additional reviewed data.

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Good to know

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Growing note

Avoid overwatering during winter months when the plant enters a semi-dormant phase. High light is essential for flower production; plants kept in insufficient light may become leggy and fail to bloom.

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Climate note

Strictly frost-tender. Protect from temperatures below 50°F (10°C). Thrives in warm, tropical temperatures.

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Flower / fruit

Produces trumpet-shaped, five-petaled flowers in shades of pink, red, or white. Bloom frequency is highest during the warmest months with intense light.

Growing & Care

Everyday care, growth, feeding, and pruning guidance.

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Sun / light

Requires full sun to partial sun; at least 6 hours of bright, direct sunlight daily is recommended for best health and blooming.

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Growth rate

Slow to moderate.

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Fertilizer

Use a balanced, diluted liquid fertilizer during the active growing season (spring and summer). Avoid fertilizing during winter dormancy.

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Pruning

Prune in early spring to shape the plant and encourage branching. Always use clean, sterilized tools.

Care notes

Avoid overwatering during winter months when the plant enters a semi-dormant phase. High light is essential for flower production; plants kept in insufficient light may become leggy and fail to bloom.

Size & Habit

How the plant grows and the space it needs at maturity.

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Mature size

2-5 feet tall, 1-3 feet wide

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Growth habit

Upright, succulent shrub with a thick, swollen base.

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Spacing

2-3 feet apart if planted outdoors in warm climates.

Flower / Fruit

Flowering, fruiting, pollination, bloom, and harvest behavior.

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Flowering / fruiting

Produces trumpet-shaped, five-petaled flowers in shades of pink, red, or white. Bloom frequency is highest during the warmest months with intense light.

Climate & Hardiness

Cold, heat, chill, and regional growing considerations.

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Hardiness zones

11-12

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Temperature

Strictly frost-tender. Protect from temperatures below 50°F (10°C). Thrives in warm, tropical temperatures.

Soil & Water

Moisture, drainage, soil, and pH preferences.

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Watering

Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings. Reduce watering significantly during the cooler winter months.

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Soil

Requires a well-draining, porous succulent or cactus potting mix. Avoid heavy, moisture-retentive soils to prevent root rot.

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Soil pH

6.0-7.0

More Plant Data

19 additional reviewed fields from this Plant.id.

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Container Growing

Ideal for containers. Use a pot with drainage holes and a gritty, fast-draining substrate. Repot only when the root system has filled the container.

Family

Apocynaceae

Foliage Look

Deep green, waxy, lance-shaped leaves with distinct central veins.

Foliage Rules

Leaves are smooth, leathery, and alternate-arranged, tapering to a point; they should not look thin or serrated.

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Fruit Flower Look

Single or multi-layered trumpet-shaped flowers in vibrant pinks, reds, or whites, clustered at the ends of branches.

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Fruit Flower Rules

Flowers should only appear on well-developed, mature plants with sufficient light exposure; avoid depicting flowers on tiny, seedling-stage plugs.

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Growth Habit Rules

Should maintain an upright posture; base should appear proportional to size, not excessively elongated.

Mature Plant Look

Architectural, sculptural, woody shrub with a dramatic, fat base and vibrant floral bursts.

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Mature Stage Morphology

Thick, woody, swollen caudex; woody stems; dense foliage canopy at stem tips; terminal clusters of flowers.

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Morphology Rules

Prioritize the appearance of the 'caudex' base, as this is the defining visual characteristic of the genus.

Plant Faqs

How often should I water my Desert Rose? Water when the soil is dry, usually every 1-2 weeks depending on heat. Why are the leaves of my Adenium falling off? It may be entering dormancy or suffering from overwatering; check the roots. Does the Desert Rose need full sun? Yes, it requires direct sunlight to bloom and maintain its compact, healthy shape.

Root Look

Well-defined, fleshy root structures; should look established within a well-draining medium.

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Soil Look

Dry, porous, gritty mineral mix; not dense peat or dark garden soil.

Starter Stage

Young plants typically exhibit a prominent, slightly thickened stem base and a small cluster of lanceolate leaves at the tips of the branches.

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Starter Stage Morphology

Soft green, leathery leaves; slender, succulent stems; limited branching compared to mature specimens.

Video Voiceover Script

Welcome to Agardeni, where inspiration for gardening helps us imagine how and where we will grow Desert Rose. This is Desert Rose, available as 18, 36, and 72 plant starter trays through the Agardeni Marketplace. Let this succulent become part of your aspirational plan, helping you imagine the future growing space you want to create on your sunny patio or windowsill. The defining feature of this plant is its thick, swollen base known as a caudex, which stores water and supports a crown of vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers. Establish your starter plug in a four-inch pot with well-draining mix, later moving it to an appropriate final container or warm location when established. Find your inspiration with Agardeni. Explore real plants and real availability. Start. Plan. Grow.

Youtube Tags

Adenium obesum Desert Rose Succulent Tropical Plant Caudex Indoor Gardening Flowering Succulent Drought Tolerant Container Gardening Agardeni

Youtube Video Summary

Discover the architectural beauty of the Desert Rose, a resilient succulent defined by its swollen caudex and vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers. This guide highlights essential care tips for maintaining this tropical favorite as a stunning container specimen.

Youtube Video Title

Growing Desert Rose: Adenium Obesum Care and Tips

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Future Buyer Brand Sellers

Possible future seller options for 2.5-inch, 4-inch, and 1-gallon finished plants.