Succulent – Desert Rose

Botanical name: adenium obesum

Beginner friendly?: no

Average size at maturity: 3 – 10 ft in height and 3 -5 ft spread

Bloom time: Spring, early summer, late winter

Hardy zone: Zones 9-12

Flower color: Pink, red, white

Foliage color: Green/gray

Growth rate: Grows about a foot a year

Pruning instructions: Deadhead withered flowers after flowering

Propagation methods: cut a stem just below a node and place in water until roots start to emerge

Landscape use: Usually grown in pots to provide contrast against other, more typically shaped plants, also popular for bonsai cultivation

Light needs: Full sun, 6 hours of sun a day

Special features: Thick, swollen trunk that holds water during times of drought

Watering instructions: Very drought-tolerant, water when soil is completely dry

Fertilizing instructions : Use 13-13-13 fertilizer once a month during the growing season

Best time to plant: year-round

Best type of soil: organic potting soil

Companion plants: russian sage, phlox, lavender

Toxicity level: potentially mildly toxic if ingested

Invasive species: no