Adenium (adenium) or "desert rose": a photo of the varieties and a description of what kind of flower, the rules of care at home, and is this houseplant poisonous or not?

No, adenium does not look like a rose at all, but it justifies its name - it is one of the most beautiful flowering plants in the desert. A slow-growing bush or small tree with a fleshy trunk that has a thickening at the base (caudex) grows up to two meters in height.

Adenium is considered to be one of the most beautiful plants. Popularly, this flower received the name "Desert Rose" and "Imperial Lily." And, although it does not look much like a rose or a lily, the names are very suitable for it. This plant can be found in the desert and is very pleased that this beautiful flower can be grown at home. As for its name, it came from Aden - the habitat of Adenium. We will get acquainted with this plant and find out what it is, whether it is poisonous or not, and also look at the photo with the “desert rose”.

What is this plant and where does it grow in nature?

Adenium (lat. Adenium) is a plant of the genus succulents. These are small trees or shrubs, the birthplace of which is Africa. The plant has to adapt to the changing and often arid weather conditions, which is what its appearance tells about. The flower accumulates a large amount of moisture in its barrel-shaped trunk. The popular name of adenium - “desert rose” was not accidentally received by him. Indeed, in some African languages it is a literal translation.

Adenium is poisonous. When working with him, you must wear rubber gloves.

In addition to an unusual thickened stem, adenium attracts the attention of flower growers with bright large flowers. Flowers reach seven centimeters in diameter and are five-petalled buds that form inflorescences on the branches.

The most popular varieties and types: description and photo

There is still no consensus among botanists about the number of existing types of ademium. There are about a dozen main types of adeniumthat are distinguished by leaf shape, habitat or trunk shape. Despite the fact that adenium is known in Russia recently, flower growers fell in love with it and widely popularized the cultivation of this flower.

More information about the popular varieties of adenium can be found in a separate article.

Fat Obesum (adenium obesum)

The most common among flower growers is the Adenium Obsessum variety, which is also known as Adenium fat or fat.

The flower fully justifies its name, being the largest representative of the species. This flower variety blooms quickly (already in its second year) and is very easy to grow.

Obesum is a deciduous and evergreen plant, reaching a meter in diameter and three meters in height. The flowers of the obsessum are pink-white, and the leaves, depending on environmental conditions, may be dull, glossy or variegated.

Arabic (adenium arabicum)

The Arabian variety is distinguished by dark brown bark and very large leaves.. The flower trunk is pronounced and has several peaks, from which oblong glossy leaves grow. The flowers of this species are small, red-pink. Over time, the leaves of adenium expand and can reach up to 20 cm in length and 12 cm in width.

Mini

Mini Adenium is the fruit of breeders from Taiwan. These small plants are a wonderful decoration of the interior and are very similar to Japanese bonsai.

This kind of flower differs from the rest by a rather slow growth - in five years it will not be higher than 20 centimeters in height.

Flowering of this plant continues throughout the year and begins at the age of two. The flowers of mini adenium range from snow-white to bright red.

Care for the main varieties of "desert roses"

Aderium is of great value for gardeners in that it does not require special care, such as replacing the pot as it grows, special watering, or expensive soil.

Temperature - during flowering of the ademium, the ambient temperature may exceed 40 degrees and this will not affect the plant negatively. If we talk about the rest period, then the optimum temperature is 12-15 degrees. In the event of a drop in temperature below ten degrees Celsius, root rot may rot.
Watering - in the summer, during the flowering of the adenium, the plant should be watered once every two days. But this is only if the ambient temperature exceeds 30 degrees. During dormancy, or in winter, you need to reduce the frequency of watering to once every 10 days. To prevent root decay, put drainage in the pot. Water should not stagnate. The plant does not need spraying.
The soil - The three main soil conditions for adenium are lightness, friability, and breathability. A mixture of large agroperlite, sand and peat is best suited.
Shine - only if there is a large amount of light, the plant gains the strength that it needs for flowering. But in the fall and spring, during the dormant period, the adenium must be shaded so that the stems do not get burned.
Transfer - The first transplant must be done at the age of the year. But you should not choose a large pot, as this will slow down the growth of the flower and may lead to decay of the root. Usually, the need for transplantation can be seen by the growth of the roots. The line of planting in each new pot drops a few centimeters, but some of the roots should remain outside.
Caudex Care - if it turned out that the plant’s caudex was damaged during transplantation, sprinkle the damaged area with sulfur or charcoal powder. Further transplantation is possible only after a couple of days, when the wounds dry up.
Pot - the roots of this plant are actively growing in breadth. Therefore, the shape of the pot should be chosen standard. If you want to grow "bonsai", then the pot should be in the form of a bowl - low and wide.
The diameter of the pot is selected depending on the caudex and the roots in the widest part.
Top dressing - in order for the adenium to actively grow and bloom, it needs top dressing. Nitrogen should prevail in the soil to increase green mass. When flowering, phosphate-potassium fertilizers should be added to the soil to ensure lush flowering. The frequency of feeding should not exceed twice a month.
Pruning - The main advantage of adenium over other indoor plants is that with the help of pruning it is possible to form small trees from it. For a lush crown, before starting the growth of seedlings, it is necessary to pinch them. In adult plants, it is worth shortening the branches by 5-8 cm. In addition, you can shorten the trunk, above the caudex, cutting it. So, along the circumference of circumcision, side kidneys will begin to appear. If the trunk is cut too low, the new branches will be very thin and the flower will lose its presentable appearance.

About care for adenium is described in our material.

Diseases and Pests

Being succulents, adeniums suffer from many diseases to which they have no immunity. The main enemies are the fungal and bacterial diseases that we encounter when growing these plants at home.

Despite the fact that the flower is poisonous, it is still susceptible to certain diseases characteristic of plants.

Diseases and pests of adenium:

Mealy and root mealybug.
Spider mite.
Aphid.
Caudex rot.
Viral diseases.

With proper care and timely treatment, no problems with growing adenium will arise.

Home breeding methods

Seeds - You can purchase the seeds of this flower in a special store. Soak the seeds for half an hour in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and then soak for several hours in a solution of zircon. Put the seeds on a mixture of sand and charcoal. Pots with seedlings need heat (30-35 degrees) and additional lighting. Shoots require daily ventilation and compliance with humidity and temperature conditions. As soon as the second leaves appear, the plant is transplanted into a dive pot.
Cuttings - for this type of reproduction, twigs obtained in the spring when cutting are used. Ideally suited cuttings 10-15 cm long. Cuttings root for at least a month and all this time you need to carefully monitor the humidity, avoiding its excess.The water of rooted cuttings needs to be changed daily to avoid decay.

Despite the fact that adenium is an exotic plant, it is not a capricious flower at all. Adenium is the perfect decoration for a window sill in an apartmentif you consider in aggregate its flowering speed, size and incredible beauty of flowers. Subject to completely uncomplicated rules, adenium will be an excellent decoration of the house.