Types of Adenium

• Some botanists believe that the Adenium genus only contains one true species and a number of subspecies, but others recognize several distinct species, according to the University of Florida Cooperative Extension. Adenium obesum grows between 6 1/2 and 10 feet tall. It has a thick trunk with a swollen base, multiple succulent branches and 2-inch pink or white blossoms. Other varieties include Adenium somalese, Adenium multiflorum and Adenium socotranum.
  
  

Cultivation Requirements

• Adenium plants grow best in temperatures that range between 85 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit and prefer high levels of humidity with full sunlight. They are susceptible to root rot infections and need well-drained soil. They grow better in clay pots than in plastic containers, and you should allow the soil to dry completely before watering the plant. Adeniums require less water during the winter than during the growing season. They benefit from generous amounts of balanced fertilizers and grow faster if they are repotted regularly.
  
  

Pests and Problems

• Pests such as scale insects, aphids, mealybugs and spider mites occasionally infest adenium plants. Scale insects are less than 1/8 inch around. They protect their bodies with a rounded or oval-shaped shell-like covering. Aphids are around the same size as scale insects. They have pear-shaped bodies and vary in color. Mealybugs are around 1/5 inch in length. They have oval-shaped, waxy white bodies, while spider mites are oval-shaped, greenish-yellow arthropods that are too small to see without magnification. These pests suck sap from adenium foliage, causing discoloration, stunted growth and leaf loss. Desert rose plants are also susceptible to leaf spot infections, and cold weather can damage them.
  
  

Toxicity

• Like oleander and many other members of the Apocynaceae family, desert rose plants are highly toxic. They exude a milky white sap that causes irritation if it comes in contact with exposed skin. People or animals who ingest parts of the desert rose plant may experience a rapid or irregular heart beat, loss of appetite, stomach upset, vomiting or diarrhea and depression, followed by death. Keep adenium plants out of the reach of animals and children.