Adenium obesum, often known as the desert rose, grows slowly, barely gaining 12 inches a year. Its wide succulent stem, thin, delicate leaves, and rich, deep pink trumpet-shaped blossoms make it a popular choice for bonsai plants. It is indigenous to Madagascar, the Middle East, and Africa.
The only Adenium that has undergone considerable hybridization to produce several flower hues is the desert rose. It is a common ornamental outdoor plant in many tropical and warm areas (USDA zones 11 and 12), and it is grown indoors in cooler climates. It grows best in the spring and will perish if exposed to frost or extremely cold weather. The sap of the dogbane-related desert rose shrub is poisonous to both humans and animals.
Cactus rose: what is it?
A form of cactus that resembles a shrub is called a rose cactus. It can grow in the southern United States and can be found from Mexico to South America. The plant produces pink blooms that start to bloom in the early spring and continue all summer long. Ora Pro Nobis, Pray-For-Us, and Pereskia grandifolia are other names for this plant.
A rose cactus looks bushy in contrast to the majority of other cactus species. It can reach a height of four to twenty feet (1.22 to 6.1 meters). Additionally, the width of this cactus can reach 10 feet (3.05 m). As a deciduous plant, it sheds its leaves in the autumn.
Typically, Ora Pro Nobis leaves are waxy and dark green. The plant stems of this cactus are covered with long, pointed thorns. Because of this, it might be challenging to pick blossoms or shape a rose cactus to your liking.
Springtime is when blooms and fresh leaves first start to emerge. Pink, crimson, or infrequently white blooms are present. They have a bright core and four substantial petals. These blossoms develop into pointy, knobby fruit that resembles an apple or pear in the autumn. The fruit has seeds that can be sown again to produce new plants.
How does a cactus rose appear?
In search of a striking low-water succulent plant? Test out desert rose! If you don’t want to water your plants frequently and prefer a kind that doesn’t appear like the conventional spiky, spiny succulents, this sun-loving plant is ideal for you.
The desert rose resembles a bonsai; it has glossy, dark green leaves and a thick, swelling truck that can store water during dry spells. However, the magnificent trumpet-shaped blooms that bloom on this plant in festive hues of pink, white, purple, and red are what really catch the eye. If you look around, you can frequently find bicolor variations, double bloom kinds, and variegated leaf varieties.
The desert rose is a superb tropical plant for container gardens as well as looking lovely when planted in the landscape as an annual (in the North) or perennial (in frost-free zones). Desert rose is an excellent plant partner for cacti and other succulents wherever it is grown. It is a tropical plant, hence it cannot withstand frost (temperatures of 32F or 0C).
What occurs when a desert rose is touched?
12 to 36 hours after exposure, the first signs of an Adenium obesum poisoning would show up.
Humans who have consumed desert roses may have slowed heart rate, low blood pressure, drowsiness, gastrointestinal issues, and dizziness as signs of poisoning.
The sap of the plant can irritate the skin and harm people if they are exposed to it while handling it.
When desert rose is consumed by cats, it can cause symptoms including a very upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, as well as loss of appetite, excessive drooling, weakness, abdominal cramps, and lack of coordination.
In more severe situations, you might notice dilated pupils, erratic heartbeat (either too fast or too slow), low body temperature, seizures, tremors, and ultimately death.
Anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, depression, excessive drooling, and mouth and throat sores are some of the signs of poisoning in dogs.
Furthermore, blisters and skin irritation can result from plant sap coming into contact with an animal’s fur.
Do desert roses count as succulents?
Adenium obesum, sometimes known as the desert rose, is a stunning shrub with succulent stems and vibrant red flowers. The Sahel areas, the area south of the Sahara (from Mauritania and Senegal to Sudan), as well as tropical and subtropical eastern, southern, and Arabian regions are native to this plant. The Desert Rose is also known as Kudu Lily, Impala Lily, Sabi Star, Desert Azalea, and Mock Azalea.
These plants demand attention from all angles. Older plants of the Desert Rose have greatly enlarged stems that resemble bonsai trees. While not in bloom, this succulent has intriguing compact clusters of narrow, green leaves that are also quite colorful.
However, there is a crucial factor to take into account when growing this plant, especially indoors. Children and dogs should never come into contact with its sap since it is harmful. It is advised that you wash your hands right away if you touch the plant and get sap on your hands.
Growing Conditions
Sunlight: full. Ideal for a window with sunlight. Water: Summer and springtime water. Winter requires less water, but the plant must still be sufficiently hydrated to keep its leaves. Maintain a temperature of at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit at all times; if you maintain 60 degrees Fahrenheit or greater throughout the winter, the plant might retain its leaves. Soil: A succulent mix with good drainage, ideally with a pH of 6.0 (We recommend Miracle Grow) (slightly acidic). Fertilizer: Use liquid or controlled-release fertilizer during the spring and summer as directed on the label.
Propagation
The usual method of propagation is seed. If your plant produces a seed pod, sow the seeds as soon as you can after the pod ripens to increase the likelihood that they will germinate.
The seeds should be as fresh as possible. Ask your seed source regarding freshness before purchasing if you don’t already have a mature plant to collect seeds from.
The containers should be kept as close to that temperature range as feasible; some gardeners utilize a heat source to maintain the pots at 80-85 F. After the seeds sprout, the plants should be prepared to be transplanted into pots in about a month.
Branch cuttings can be used to produce the desert rose, although the plants frequently lack the distinctive (and much coveted) bulbous stem.