A grouping of Adenium obesum plants flowering colors of red, white and pink

Adenium obesum (Desert Rose)

Native from western tropical Africa east to Tanzania and the southern Arabian Peninsula, this succulent shrub stores water in its thick stems and swollen base, called a caudex. It can shed its leaves during drought or cool weather. Funnel-shaped flowers appear over a long season in warm conditions; cultivated hybrids offer many colors and double flowers. Often trained as bonsai, it has received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. Its milky sap can irritate skin, and all parts are poisonous if eaten. It has naturalized in Sri Lanka. I have grown hybrids from seed in Barranquilla, Colombia, where heavy seasonal rain can cause root rot. Photographed in Florida and Barranquilla, Colombia.

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Large, sculptural Adenium obesum shrub with twisted gray branches and clusters of deep pink flowers blooming among thick green leaves, growing in a dry, rocky garden setting

Three Adenium obesum plants with white, red and pink flowers in sunlight

Large Adenium obesum shrub with dozens of vivid pink flowers and thick, twisting gray branches sprawling across a shaded garden with lush greenery and tree trunks in the background

Three white and pink Adenium obesum flowers

Adenium obesum flower cluster with pink and white petals

Adenium obesum Sabi Star flowers with pink margins and a golden throat

Three vibrant pink-red Adenium obesum flowers blooming closely together among thick green leaves and grayish branches, with a gravel path in the background

Cluster of Adenium obesum flowers with white centers and deep pink petal margins

Two white Adenium obesum flowers with yellow centers

Two striking red Adenium obesum 'Red Dragon' flowers with slightly curled petals and creamy throats streaked with dark lines, blooming above gravelly ground with glossy green leaves

Two striking Adenium obesum flowers—one facing forward with deep red petals and a yellow throat, the other viewed from the side—set against glossy green leaves and a blurred natural background

Pair of vivid pink and white Adenium obesum flowers blooming on a single stem, with deep green leaves in the background and a textured natural setting

Two dark red Adenium obesum flowers with broad velvety petals and pale centers blooming beside glossy green leaves

Taiwan Red Adenium obesum flower with rich red petals and a yellow throat

Red Adenium obesum flowers with bright yellow centers and overlapping petals

A white and pink adenium obesum flower with dark pink on the edge of te petals

Vibrant dark red Adenium obesum flower with a striped throat and velvety petals, blooming against a blurred rocky background

A pink Adenium obesum flower with a yellow center

A white Adenium obesum flower with a yellow center

Brilliant red Adenium obesum flower with smooth velvety petals and deep pink striations in the throat, lit by warm sunlight against a shadowed background

Pink and white Adenium obesum flower with crimson throat stripes and wavy petals, set against velvety green foliage

Adenium obesum flower with splashes of red, pink and white in sunlight

Dark pink Adenium obesum flower with a yellow throat

Striking close-up of a dark red Adenium obesum flower with velvety petals and a vivid yellow throat, surrounded by glossy green leaves.

A star shaped Adenium obesum flower with white, pink an yellow colors

Vivid pink Adenium obesum flower with smooth, velvety petals fading to white at the base and a yellow center, blooming on a twisted, woody stem with green leaves in the background

Delicate pink Adenium obesum flower with white streaks and vivid red lines radiating from a yellow-orange throat, surrounded by narrow green leaves

Striking white Adenium obesum flower with deep pink petal edges and a yellow-orange throat lined with red streaks, set against a rocky desert background

Close-up of a striking Adenium obesum flower with deep crimson red petals and a bold white star-shaped center surrounding a yellow throat, set against glossy green leaves

Delicate Adenium obesum flower with white petals edged in soft pink and a light yellow-orange throat, set against twisting gray branches and subtle green foliage

Brilliant red Adenium obesum flower glowing in direct sunlight, with smooth overlapping petals and shiny green leaves in sharp contrast

Beautiful Adenium obesum flower with crisp white petals edged in vibrant pink and a golden-yellow throat, surrounded by glossy green leaves and thick branches

Striking Adenium obesum 'Red Dragon' flower with rich crimson petals and a glowing yellow throat, flaring outward in full sunlight with glossy green leaves in the background

Single Adenium obesum flower displaying white petals with soft pink edges and a vibrant yellow throat, emerging from a woody branch with fresh green buds

Vivid red Adenium obesum flower with smooth petals and a pale peach throat, blooming on a thick gray stem against a soft garden background

Close-up of an Adenium obesum flower with ruffled white petals edged in bright pink and a vivid golden-yellow throat, set against green foliage

One rose-red colored Adenium obesum flower

Bright red Adenium obesum flower with slightly curved petals and deep red veins, blooming among twisted gray branches and narrow green leaves

Vivid red Adenium obesum flower with five wide petals and a cream-colored throat streaked with dark red lines, surrounded by glossy green leaves in bright sunlight.

Deep crimson Adenium obesum flower with velvety petals and a bright orange-yellow throat, standing out against a pale gray branch and gravel background

Beautiful Adenium obesum flower with soft white petals edged in vibrant pink and a warm orange throat, surrounded by green leaves and flower buds

Deep magenta-purple Adenium obesum flower with velvety petals and a soft yellow center, framed by glossy green leaves and blurred stems

Delicate pink Adenium obesum flower with a soft gradient of white and pink petals, a deep orange throat, and unopened buds on a smooth branch

Close-up of a dark pink Adenium obesum flower with a deep red throat and delicate rippled petals, set against green leaves and blurred background

Red Adenium obesum flower with a yellow throat

A double white Adenium obesum flower with dark pink edges and a yellow center

Double Adenium obesum flower with layered white petals edged in pink

Elegant close-up of a double-petaled Adenium obesum flower, white with soft pink ruffled edges, blooming on a thick, woody stem with glossy green leaves.