Adenium “Desert Rose” (Adenium obesum), packet of 10 seeds
$4.95
Family: Dogbane (Apocynaceae)
Hardy to Zones 10 to 12, best grown as a potted plant. Protect from frost.
(Desert Rose) Caudiciform perennial native to South Sahara, Sahel, East and South Africa, Arabia and especially the island of Socotra. A perfect bonsai, naturally! Will thrive for years in the half light of a window, potted to cactus mix and kept on the dry side. One of the oddest and most interesting plants worldwide. Do not eat it. Traditional uses (TAM): skin emollient, pain relief. Sow seeds in cactus mix in a warm and brightly lit location. Water only when surface becomes dry. Germination in 1 to 3 weeks.
10 seeds/pkt, Open Pollinated, Untreated, NO GMO’s
In stock
omshivani (verified owner) –
Thank you theses seeds germinated wonderfully ! Such beautiful plant, I am very happy.
I am curious, how do people use it as an emollient ?
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Richo Cech –
omshivani, thanks for the review, these are super cute germinators and great pet plants. i personally haven’t used the plant, it does contain cardioactive glycosides and the sap can be irritating. aloe would be better, safer. richo
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omshivani (verified owner) –
If I germinate in cactus mix… how deeply should I put the seeds into the mix ? Thanks Richo ! I plan on growing more and will try your method this time 🙂
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Richo Cech –
Hello Omshivani, thanks for writing. The best technique is to fill the 3 inch pot up nearly to the brim with cactus mix, put the seeds on the surface, then cover with fine white pumice up to the rim of the pot. the seeds will germinate up through the pumice, which will hold them in place. The pumice also keeps the seed/seedling from being dislodged during watering. you can follow the aloe planting instructions here, event though an adenium is not an aloe https://blog.strictlymedicinalseeds.com/starting-aloe-from-seed/
richo
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omshivani (verified owner) –
Do you think I could use play sand (in lieu of pumice)?
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Richo Cech –
omshivani, thanks for communicating. you could give it a try! richo
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Question
JD –
Will this plant bloom throughout the year, or only at certain times of the year?
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Richo Cech –
Hello JD,
You’re right that the blossoms are long-lived. In this hemisphere they tend to blossom June through December. Richo
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Allegra Chesnut (verified owner) –
I received 11 seeds and planted them the following day, in cactus mix, atop a heating mat (at 78 deg.), under lights. Within 48 hours I had 11 seedlings that looked like tiny alien life forms (as desert plants tend to do very early in life) and now, a couple of months later, I have a very respectable forest of these weird and beautiful life forms. I can’t wait to see them all in bloom next summer. Yet another outstanding experience with Strictly Medicinal’s seeds.
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Question
Stacia Donovan –
I have been wanting to get a desert rose for a houseplant for quite sometime and just saw this as I was getting my seed order ready. Could this variety live inside as a houseplant?
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Richo Cech –
Hello Stacia, Yes, “obesum” is the main species and is commonly grown indoors. The cactus mix must be kept very dry. Richo
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Spirit Cadet (verified owner) –
Dear Richo,
Firstly, thanks so much for running this website the way you do! Your personal responses and growing tips rock! Secondly, I’m a first time gardener and am growing a flat of these babies. I see in the comment above you say the cactus mix must be kept very dry–must they be kept dry while they germinate or after the seedling has sprouted? Thanks again for all you do! Plant power!
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Richo Cech –
Hello Spirit,
Thanks for contacting and its my pleasure. I grow mine just like aloes and it works fine although I’m sure other approaches would work, too. I just make a fast-draining mix, put the seeds on that, hold them down with a little coarse sand, then cover with white pumice and keep warm and under the lights. In answer to your question I seem to remember I keep them pretty moist until germination then back off. The pumice sort of absorbs the impact of the water so the seeds don’t dislodge, then holds them up straight after they germ. Richo
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Shivani Saunders (verified owner) –
Hi Richo, I bought some desert rose seeds from you and can’t wait to get ‘em going! My question is regarding its use as an emollient. I’ve searched & searched and can’t find any info on that. Which part of this plant is used, and how is it extracted? Any info would be greatly appreciated! (Tho they are so pretty I may never touch them, ha).
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Richo Cech –
here’s one of the more comprehensive scientific articles on the plant and its folk use in Oman, where it is native https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2314853518302385
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Shivani Saunders (verified owner) –
Hi Richo, I don’t have coarse sand or pumice.. but I do have some horticultural sand. Do you think that will work to hold the structures and seeds in place? Thanks.
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Richo Cech –
hi shivani, horticultural sand really is coarse, sharp sand. it will work fine! r
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