When summer heat in Arizona hits hard and all my plants look like they are on life support, there is one plant I can depend on to glow up my garden! Adeniums, or Desert Roses as they are commonly called, are true stars in the heat. They love it!! I recently attended a virtual class about these hardy and lovely plants, and I learned a lot!
Adeniums originated in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. They are a form of succulent, but instead of storing water in their juicy leaves, they store it in their trunks, which are called caudexes. They are called Desert Rose because their flowers have 5 petals, similar to a wild rose. The flowers come in all colors and variations because there are many hybrids.
Caring for adeniums is not difficult. They grow best here in pots – particularly terra cotta pots. They thrive in temperatures between 50 and 100++ degrees and go dormant in our Arizona winters. They do need protection from the cold, and most people bring them inside once the nighttime temperatures dip below 50 degrees. I have four adeniums, and they go in the garage in November, and come back outside in late February. I do have a very large one that is now too big to bring inside, so it goes under the covered patio; and if it’s going to get really cold, I cover it with frost cloth. This has worked well for me for at least a decade. Some of them are deciduous, and some keep their leaves through the dormant period. They do not get any water at all during their dormancy, since that would likely cause the caudex to rot.
In spring, when it’s time to take them out of their winter hibernation, it’s best to give them filtered light for a week or two as they adjust to being back outside. They do love sun, so after a week or two, put them in a nice, sunny spot maybe with some protection from the worst of the afternoon sun. Then start watering! My experience is that they like to be watered 3-4 times a week in the heat, as long as they are potted in well-draining potting soil. A cactus mix is best. They like to get a balanced, slow-release fertilizer 2-3 times during the growing season, or a very diluted strength liquid fertilizer with some of their waterings. In the past, I have watered with diluted cactus/succulent fertilizer that I bought at the Cactus and Succulent Society meeting, but this year I’m going to try Osmocote.
One thing I learned in the class was that adeniums can be pruned! Water the plant 3 days prior to pruning. Remove dead, diseased, or crossing stems. Pruning adeniums is similar to pruning roses. Look for the bud node and make a diagonal cut ¼ – ½” above it in the direction you want it to grow. Keep dry for 6 days after pruning, then water as usual. Wear gloves, because the sap is toxic. Pruning encourages new, healthy growth!
Purchase adeniums at a local plant sale, such as the one held at the Desert Botanic Garden. They are grown locally and are adapted to our climate.
By Carrie Goode
Member Weeders Garden Club
