Native to the Arabian Peninsula and Africa, the adenium – also known as the desert rose – is the ideal plant for growing year-round. Because of its drought tolerance and easy upkeep, the adenium will keep producing its colourful flowers even during the hottest months of summer. While appreciated for its colourful flowers, it’s also known for its thick stem, and is commonly used for bonsai.
Best grown in a similar manner to a cactus, it’s recommended that adeniums are potted in a mix that consists of sand, gravel and compost, and placed in a free-draining pot. As its demand for water is so low, the adenium should be allowed to dry out completely between each watering. If pruned, be careful of the sap, as it’s highly toxic – so much so that it’s used as arrow poison throughout Africa for hunting large game.
Finally, adeniums are easy to propagate and can be done so either from seeds or cuttings.
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