Adenium dhofarense in the ground

Adenium dhofarense, the desert rose with large leaves

Adenium dhofarense joined the Apocynaceae and desert rose families in 2015. Previously, this species, which grows only in southern Oman and northern Yemen, was considered a subspecies of Adenium obesum. What makes it special? A changing habit and XXL leaves.

How to recognize the desert rose, Adenium dhofarense?

Adenium dhofarense is a semi-succulent bush growing up to three meters high. This desert rose has the particularity of adapting its appearance to its environment. Like adenium swazicum or adenium oleifolium, this variety can have an upright habit. But it can also develop a creeping habit if its branches are in contact with the ground, or a hanging habit if it grows on the edge of a precipice or cliff!

The gray-barked trunk is swollen at the base. Its caudex can reach up to a meter in diameter. The trunk branches out and bears numerous branches. The longest are three meters long and form roots when they touch the ground.

Obovate leaves appear at the tips of the branches. Larger than those of other desert roses, they are also tougher. Their cream-colored veins contrast with the brilliant green of the leaf blades.

The pink flowers, on the other hand, are smaller than those of other varieties. They are composed of five lobes. Welded together at the base, they form a pink and yellow tube enclosing the stamens. Open lobes with pointed tips give the flower a star shape.

Adenium dhofarense is toxic. It contains a white latex filled with alkaloids. If ingested, this substance causes digestive and cardiac disorders. It can even damage the nervous system. Keep your desert rose out of the reach of children and pets. Wear gloves when repotting.

Our maintenance tips

You can propagate your Adenium dhofarense by sowing or cutting. Sowing produces a plant identical to the mother plant. With cuttings, your new specimen will not develop a caudex.

Watering

Your Adenium dhofarense tolerates drought better than too much water.

Water only when the substrate is dry at depth (at least 5 centimetres). Drain any stagnant water from the saucer.

Spray

Your adenium dhofarense hates wet foliage. You must not mist the plant.

Repotting

Every spring, repot your Adenium dhofarense to give it more space.

Get a pot with holes larger than the root ball of your Adenium dhofarense.

Adenium dhofarense appreciate a light, draining substrate. You can plant your specimen in potting soil for cacti and succulents. You can also make your own growing medium by mixing equal parts potting soil and a draining material such as sand, perlite or pozzolan.

Place a layer of substrate at the bottom of the pot. Plant your Adenium dhofarense in the center. Then add potting soil. In young plants, the caudex grows better when buried. If your plant is less than four years old, bury two-thirds of it. If it's older, you can leave it on the surface.

Water generously to facilitate rooting.

Fertilization

To promote the growth of your Adenium dhofarense, apply fertilizer in spring and summer.

Use a cactus and succulent or Mediterranean plant fertilizer to encourage the growth of your Adenium dhofarense.

Prune

Remove wilted flowers as and when they appear, to encourage the emergence of new inflorescences.

Seedling

Prepare a light, draining substrate, for example 50% potting soil for cacti and succulents, 25% pozzolana and 25% sand. Pour your mixture into plastic cups.

Plant your seeds, covering them with two to three centimetres of substrate. You can put several seeds in the same pot.

Sowing is done in the air. Place your pots in a mini-greenhouse or cover them with a bottle or translucent plastic bag.

Mist the substrate regularly to keep it moist. Don't forget to air the pots a few minutes a day.

Cutting

Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.

Locate a healthy, flowerless branch. Cut a section with several leaves about 10 centimetres long. Use a clean, sharp tool to facilitate healing.

Leave your cutting to dry for 24 to 72 hours, until a callus forms.

Obtain a pierced terracotta pot. This material promotes uniform drying of the substrate and reduces the risk of root rot. Pour a bed of clay balls or gravel in the bottom. If the hole is too large and the marbles escape, fill it with a pebble.

For the substrate, prepare a mixture of one-third soil, one-third potting compost and one-third sand. Line the pot with it. Plant your cutting in the center and press down.

Place your succulent in a room where the temperature doesn't fall below 18 degrees. Find a bright spot away from direct sunlight, behind a curtain for example.

Diseases / Threats

Aphids

Mealybugs

Information

Family	Apocynaceae - Apocynaceae
Type	Desert rose - Adenium
Species	Adenium dhofarense - Adenium dhofarense
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Deciduous
Exposure	Sun
Substrats	Calcareous earth Humus soil Sandy soil
Planting methods	In pots In tubs Bucket
Categories	Shrub Interior Flowery Succulent
Tags	Flowery Fritillary Toxic
Origin	Western Asia
Hardiness (USDA)	12a
Leaf color
Flower color