Adenium arabicum

Description:

Family: Apocynaceae

A large above ground caudiciform plant producing a thickened trunk up to 6 feet in diameter. Plant has 2 to 3 inch long oval, slightly pubescent leaves, and 1 to 2 inch wide flowers with fading light pink petals and a yellow to cream colored center.

Habitat:
Native to the Arabian peninsula from Western Saudi Arabia to eastern Yemen where it grows between Granite rocks and along granite cliff faces. It is an extremely arid species and can handle long droughts.

Cultivation:
Should be watered once every 1 to 2 weeks during the summer, keep dry in winter. The caudex can grow quite rapidly if over potted and kept in extremely well draining medium (mostly pumice), up to several inches a season.

A note on nomenclature:
Due to precedence, the accepted name for Adenium arabicum is Adenium obesum, however, this is the same name that was given to a genetically and visibly distinctive species originating from eastern Tanzania. This nomenclatural error (which is not resolved) has resulted in much confusion in the botanical community. Due to this, the majority of plants sold under these names are most likely hybrids between the two species.