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Adenium obesum (Tanzania form)

Name: Adenium obesum (Tanzania form)
Brand: Rare Plant Catalog
SKU: 10358935781656
Price: 15.0 USD
Availability: InStock

$15

These Adenium obesum seedlings propagated from material with locality data aren’t your average hardware store “desert rose.” The parents of these plants were confirmed pure with a Tanzanian provenance, making these young seedlings genetically similar to the ancient plants one might find in the Acacia-Commiphora woodlands of northeastern Africa. This is a unique attribute, despite the species being one of the most ubiquitous caudiciforms, or “fat plants,” in cultivation. Most plants offered are genetically muddled mixes of unknown lineage, and while some of the hybrids bred for their flowers certainly have horticultural merit, we believe the true species deserves to be cultivated. Images of plants in habitat show that there is more than enough to appreciate, depicting towering behemoths 16 feet tall and several feet wide, with narrow branches full of beautiful pink flowers. A. obesum is characterized by having a primarily belowground spherical taproot caudex for most of its life, similar to that of A. swazicum. The leaves are cuneate and sometimes emarginate, being narrow at the base and widening to a blunt, somewhat indented tip, when mature. This is very distinctive, as all other members of the genus have lanceolate to obovate leaves. We have found that plants raised in our environment are substantially hardier than the mass-imported variants hybridized with A. arabicum and originally pampered in lush environments, but we would still recommend protection from prolonged cold, wet weather and any frost.

pot size: 3.5" tall

genus: Adenium
family: Apocynaceae

care & cultivation:

growing season: summer

what growing season means

Active growth occurs in warmer months.
water level: moderate

what water level means

Let the mix dry slightly, but not fully. Water when the top half feels dry. Avoid extremes.
light level: 30% shade

what light level means

Bright greenhouse conditions or strong natural exposure. Outdoors: usually at least 4-6 hours of direct morning light, or all day under ~30% shade cloth. Indoors: the highest light a south-facing window can provide, though supplemental lighting is recommended.
min/max temp: 42°F/100°F

what min/max temp means

42°F — Cold-sensitive range. Brief drops are tolerable if conditions remain dry, as in desert and semi-desert winters with wide temperature swings.
100°F — Characteristic of desert and semi-desert heat. Prolonged exposure requires shading, irrigation, and cooling strategies.
humidity level: adaptable

what humidity level means

Tolerates a wide range of conditions, from dry air to very humid environments, without significant stress.
dormancy water: none

what dormancy water means

Withhold all water during dormancy. Keep dry until active growth resumes.
potting mix: mineral mix

what potting mix means

Inorganic substrate made up of pumice, lava, or perlite with no organic matter. Similar to the rocky, nutrient-poor soils of arid and semi-arid regions.

some plants speak for themselves,
we're just here to make the introduction.

our nursery grew out of a shared belief that rare plants shouldn't stay rare forever. that's why we propagate the plants we'd be excited to receive and offer them directly, without the usual markup

common questions

how do you ship plants?

Very carefully. Each plant is individually packed by hand using materials suited to its size, shape, and needs, usually by the same person who grew it. Heat packs are available during colder months but are not reliable below 15 degrees. If needed, we can hold an order for up to two weeks. All shipments include a California Nursery Stock Certificate for Interstate and Intrastate Shipments.

when does my order arrive?

We ship on Mondays to avoid weekend delays. Most orders go out within a few days, but weather may delay things slightly. USPS Ground Advantage is standard, with Priority available at checkout. You’ll get tracking once your order ships. We don’t have control over carrier speed or when your package is scanned in, but if something seems off or it’s stuck in transit, let us know and we’ll do our best to help.

will I receive the plant pictured?

If the listing description includes "you will recieve the plant pictured", then yes, that’s the one you’ll get. For general listings, you’ll receive a plant of similar size and quality to what’s shown. We grow or hand-select everything ourselves, so what you see is a fair representation of what we send out.

will my plant arrive potted?

Most plants ship bare-root, but we occasionally send them potted when it’s better for the plant. When we ship with soil, we use clean, inorganic media to meet USDA and state requirements for plant shipments.

what if my plant arrives damaged?

Contact us within 3 days of receiving your plant. Send a few clear photos and a short note. The same people who packed your plant have sent out thousands before, but plants are living things and we’ll work with you if something goes wrong.

where can I find care info?

Each product page includes species-specific care notes in an interactive table. Tap the ⓘ icon on any category to reveal detailed guidance. Still unsure? Just ask! Chances are we’ve personally dealt with whatever you’re facing.

do you grow everything yourselves?

Most of it, yes. The vast majority of our plants are propagated by us at our NorCal facility. The rest come from growers we know and trust. We don’t sell wild-collected material, and we never buy from bulk suppliers pushing unlabeled stock grown under questionable conditions. Because we grow most things ourselves and stay small by design, we’re able to keep prices comparable to overseas sellers without cutting corners or sending out half-rooted plants that were never meant to last.

do you offer wholesale?

Yes, our separate wholesale site is currently under construction, but you can reach out on our contact form. Not all plants are available and there are minimum order quantities. Access is limited to those engaged in a commercial trade. If you’d like to open an account, please get in touch with us. And if you think your local nursery should carry our plants, feel free to point them our way.