Family: Apocynaceae
Scientific name: Adenium obesum
Common name: Desert Rose
Origin: Sahel
The Desert Rose naturally grows in dry desert areas south of the Sahara and is eye-catching because of its swollen trunk. The plant uses its trunk as a water storage for long periods of drought. It looks exceptionally beautiful in the desert when it blooms with its pink-white flowers. It is an easy pot plant and can also be grown as a bonsai. Meanwhile, a lot of hybrids have been crossed, with varying flower colours and leaf shapes. The plant sap is poisonous and was used for poison darts in the past.
Sowing description: Soak the seeds in luke warm water for 24 hours and then sow them superficially in a mix of sand and sowing mix(1:1). Germination usually occurs after a few weeks in a warm, light place (25-30 degrees Celsius). Keep the soil continously moistened.
Sowing time: Whole year
Difficulty: Intermediate
Minimum temperature: 15 degrees Celsius
