Desert Rose (Adenium obesum)
Desert Rose Plant Features
Looking for a dramatic low-water succulent plant? Try desert rose! This sun-loving plant is perfect for you if you don't want to water a lot and want a variety that looks different than the typical spiky, spiny succulents.Desert rose looks like a bonsai; it has a thick, swollen truck (that holds water during times of drought) and shiny, dark green leaves. But the real appeal comes from its showy, trumpet-shaped flowers that appear in festive shades of pink, white, purple, and red. Look around and you can often find bicolor varieties, types with double flowers, or those with variegated foliage.
Desert rose looks beautiful when planted in the landscape as an annual (in the North) or perennial (in frost-free regions), but is also an excellent tropical plant for container gardens. No matter where you grow desert rose, it's a perfect companion for cacti and other succulents. Because it is a tropical plant, it doesn't survive frost (temperatures of 32F or 0C).
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Desert Rose Growing Instructions
Desert rose is a sun-loving plant, so grow it in the brightest spot you have. It's equally outstanding grown in landscape beds or borders as it is in containers and planters on decks, patios, and other outdoor spaces.Water desert rose regularly for best results. The plant tolerates low-water conditions, but if it dries out too much, it will lose some or all of its leaves. (Don't worry if this happens; your desert rose will grow new leaves when it starts to get enough water again.)
Fertilize desert rose in spring and summer, if you wish, with a general-purpose fertilizer. Take care to follow the directions on the fertilizer packaging.
Because desert rose is a slow-growing plant, pruning is not necessary.
Note: Desert rose is not meant for human or animal consumption. All parts of this plant are considered poisonous.
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Water
Low water needs
Medium water needs
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Light
Outside: Sun
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Colors
Pink
Purple
Red
Variegated
White
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Special Features
Attracts butterflies
Deer/rabbit resistant
Super-easy to grow
Complement your Desert Rose
CactusDesert rose is a natural companion for cactus.
Succulents
Desert rose offers beautiful flowers that accent virtually any succulents.
Q&A
Why are my desert rose plant leaves turning yellow and falling off?Several factors can make desert rose develop yellow leaves that fall off the plant. First off, make sure your plant is getting enough water. While it tolerates minimal watering, it does best when watered -- and fertilized -- regularly in spring and summer.
If you've just purchased your desert rose, it may be stress. Like many plants, desert rose will react to stress by dropping some leaves. Once it adapts to its new home, it should recover and put out fresh new foliage.
Also be sure your desert rose is getting enough light. The plant can lose foliage when it's grown in too much shade, especially if it is overwatered and in shade.
