Desert Rose Plants

Desert rose plants, Adenium obesum, is native to tropical and subtropical eastern to southern Africa and Arabia.

We are aware that many people think that this beautiful plant is native to the United States with its home grounds being the Sonoran Desert but as stated above this simply is just not true.

When variegated the white part of the flower radiates out from the yellow throat towards the petal tips.

The flowers of the desert rose vary from solid colors of medium red to pink and quite often will be variegated with white.

The red or pink shades then form an outline around the sides and tops of each of the five petals causing the flower to almost glow.

Even though this plant is highly sought after one rarely observes it for sale in floral stores and garden centers.

I noticed it several years ago offered in bonsai form which is due to the plants ability to form a rather large basal caudex.

The term caudex refers to an enlarged stem usually the lower part of the stem. Thus the desert rose’s caudex gives it the appearance of an older bonsai plant.

Some desert roses have been grafted to common rootstock in order to retain certain highly desirable features such as color or in general plant habit.