Desert Rose
ExplorePlants
Desert Rose
Adenium
The Desert Rose is a stunning plant that has thick, fleshy stems and beautiful pink flowers. It looks like a little tree with a bright crown of flowers!
Habitat: Deserts and dry regions
Appearance
The Desert Rose is a striking succulent shrub with a unique, swollen base called a caudex, which stores water. It boasts vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers, typically in shades of pink, red, or white, often with contrasting edges. Its thick, glossy green leaves usually cluster at the stem tips.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderGentianalesFamilyApocynaceaeGenusAdenium
Category
PlantsRarity
Rare
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Despite its name, it's not a rose at all, but related to the oleander flower!
Its thick, swollen trunk helps it store water, just like a camel stores water in its humps!
Some varieties are grown as miniature 'trees' in bonsai, even blooming small flowers!
The plant's potent sap has historically been used to make poison arrows for hunting!
Special abilities
Ability
Water Tank Trunk
Desert Rose has a thick, bulbous trunk (caudex) that helps it store water, allowing it to survive long dry periods.
Ability
Toxic Shield
Desert Rose can produce highly toxic sap, which helps it defend against hungry herbivores that try to eat its leaves or stems.
Ability
Pollinator Beacon
Desert Rose has large, showy flowers with bright colors that help it attract specific insects for successful pollination.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 50-300 cm
- Spread
- 50-200 cm
- Flower Size
- 2-7 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring to Fall, often year-round indoors
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- High
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
European honey bee
Apis mellifera
collects nectar and pollen
eats
Cotton aphid
Aphis gossypii
feeds on sap from leaves
pollinates
Convolvulus Hawk-moth
Agrius convolvuli
visits flowers at dusk
Traits
Cluster Flower
Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem.
Shrub
A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
Evergreen
Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
Fragrant Flower
Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
Thorny Stem
Pertaining to plants that have stems covered with sharp, pointed projections for defense.
Drought Tolerant
Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
Succulent
Succulent plants have thickened, fleshy parts, usually leaves or stems, adapted to store water in arid climates.
Desert
Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna.
Also known as
Adenium ObesumImpala LilyMock Azalea
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Desert Rose?
50-300 cm
How wide does Desert Rose spread?
50-200 cm
How big are the flowers on Desert Rose?
2-7 cm
When does Desert Rose bloom?
Spring to Fall, often year-round indoors
Is Desert Rose edible?
No
Is Desert Rose toxic?
High
What is Desert Rose's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Desert Rose pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.
Where to spot
Park2 sightings2 species
British Columbia, CA
Akamina-Kishinena Provincial Park
You might spot Common Beargrass and Subalpine Larch.
View guide →
Park0 sightings0 species
British Columbia, CA
Purcell Wilderness Conservancy Provincial Park
You might spot Green Comma, Mourning Cloak, and Hoary Comma.
View guide →
