€47,70

Adenium arabicum Balf.f.

🌱 Morphology

  With a caudiciform stem... A succulent perennial plant of shrubby habit, highly prized for the development of its caudex, an extraordinarily thickened base of the stem that acts as a water storage organ. In this species, the caudex is usually broad, low and solid, with a silhouette that can resemble that of a small baobab. The bark has grey, brown, or purplish shades, while the branches are robust, short, and ascending, with an irregular distribution.

The leaves are grouped in terminal rosettes and are fleshy, broad, obovate, and rounded at the apex. Their color varies from bright green to bluish green; they can be smooth or have a slight pubescence. The flowers are trumpet- shaped, with five spreading lobes, generally pink or reddish at the margins and paler towards the throat. Compared to other forms of Adenium, it stands out for its compact growth and the considerable proportion of the caudex relative to the aerial part. 

🌍 Distribution, habitat and family

It is native to the far southwest of the Arabian peninsula, mainly from Yemen and southwest Saudi Arabia. It grows in arid and semi-arid environments, on rocky slopes, granite outcrops, and stony grounds where rainfall is scarce and seasonal. Under these conditions, the caudex allows it to store water and maintain reserves during dry periods. Wild populations show variations in habit depending on altitude and environmental conditions, from shrubby specimens to plants with a very thickened base and relatively short branches. Family: Apocynaceae. Subfamily: Apocynoideae. Tribe: Nerieae.

Taxonomic note: the name Adenium arabicum is widely used in specialized cultivation to identify these plants with particularly broad caudexes. Some taxonomic databases, including Plants of the World Online, consider it a synonym of Adenium obesum. For this fact sheet, the name A. arabicum is retained, as it is commonly marketed in collections of succulent plants.

❄️ Temperature — USDA 10a

It tolerates minimum temperatures of approximately −1.1 °C, corresponding to the lower limit of USDA zone 10a, although this figure should not be interpreted as a safe exposure temperature. It is a very sensitive species to frost and cold combined with moisture. For pot cultivation, it is recommended to keep it preferably above 10–12 °C during winter, in a bright and protected location. Low temperatures can induce leaf drop and vegetative dormancy; if accompanied by a damp growing medium, the risk of caudex and root rot increases considerably.

☀️ Lighting

It requires very intense light and develops best in full sun, provided it is acclimatized gradually. Abundant exposure promotes the development of robust branches, compact growth, and more generous flowering. In summer, during episodes of extreme heat, it is advisable to monitor plants grown in small pots to prevent excessive root overheating. As a general guideline, a DLI PAR of 25–40 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹ can be targeted, adapting it to the temperature, ventilation, and acclimatization of the specimen.

💧 Growth and watering

Winter dormancy. Active growth is concentrated mainly during the warm months. When temperatures drop, it may lose some or all of its leaves and enter dormancy. During spring and summer, it is recommended to water abundantly, allowing excess water to drain through the drainage holes and allowing the growing medium to dry out completely before the next watering. In winter, if the plant loses its leaves and temperatures drop, water inputs should be greatly reduced, keeping the growing medium almost dry. It is not recommended to water according to a fixed schedule: temperature, the condition of the caudex, and vegetative activity should determine the frequency.

🌸 Flowering

It produces tubular and showy flowers, grouped at the ends of the branches. The corolla has five spreading lobes, with rounded or wavy edges, and shades of pink or rosy red that become paler towards the throat, which is usually whitish. Under favorable conditions, it can flower during spring and summer, and even prolong flowering in warm climates. Each flower lasts a few days, but a mature plant can produce successive flushes of flowers. Flowering depends on the maturity of the specimen, light intensity, temperature, and watering management.

🌿 Nutrition

During active growth, it is recommended to use Desert CHOICE® Succulents, following the product's dosage instructions. Moderate and regular fertilization is advised during the vegetative stage, without excess nitrogen, to promote balanced development of the branches, leaves, and caudex. Fertilization should be suspended during winter dormancy. A well-aerated growing medium, excellent drainage, and careful watering management are essential to prevent the rot of its storage organs.

Black ELITE pot, 12x12 cm

This is an unrivaled xerophyte grown in Madrid in a technological square pot with a growing medium activated with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.

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