Adenium obesum is a species of flowering plant in the Apocynaceae (dogbane) family. It is native to the Tropical Africa’s semi-arid areas from Mauritania, Senegal to Somalia, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania; Arabian Peninsula including Socotra. Naturally found in rocky or sandy soils in savannah, dry lands at elevations up to 2,100 metres. Species name ‘obesum’ refers to plants thick and swollen trunk, meaning stout or plump in latin. The genus Adenium is usually seen as comprising 6 distinct, but closely related species. However plant generally been treated as one species Adenium obesum with some subspecies, like A. arabicum, A. arboretum, A. socotranum, A. somalense and A. swazicum.

Desert Rose is an evergreen or drought-deciduous succulent shrub. It usually grows up to 3 m, rarely 5 m tall. Plant has pachycaul stem (Greek pachy meaning thick or stout, and Latin caulis meaning the stem). The stems base becomes strongly thickened with age, can become 1 metre or more in diameter.

Leaves of Adenium obesum are spirally arranged, leathery, lanceolate in shape, up to 15 cm long and gathered toward the tips of the shoots. Showy trumpet shaped flowers, up to 5 cm long, and up to 6 cm in diameter with five petals are red or pink sometimes white. Flowers of the plant resemble to Pachypodium spp. and Nerium oleanders flowers. Under favourable conditions some clones flower for 4 months or even nearly year-round. Many ornamental cultivars of Adenium obesum have been developed as well as hybrids with other species.

Desert Rose is propagated by seed, cuttings and grafting. Grafting onto Nerium oleander is possible, leads to rich flowering and increase the plants cold hardiness. Plant requires a sunny position, high temperature, very well-drained soil. Bacterial and fungal root and stem rot are the most common diseases in cultivation. Avoiding wet cool conditions is the best way to prevent fungal infestations. Waterlogging leads to rotting. Below 5°C the branch tips are damaged, plant cannot survive under 0°C. The numerous hybrids are propagated mainly by grafting on to seedling rootstock. While plants grown from seed are more likely to have the swollen caudex at a young age, with time many cutting-grown plants cannot be distinguished from seedlings.

Adenium obesum produces a sap in its roots and stems that contains a glycoside that a powerful heart toxin and is used as an arrow poison in Africa. Extracts from the root have shown a cytotoxic effect against some carcinoma cells.

Use in Landscape: Desert Rose is a very popular ornamental plant, valued particularly for its flowers and unusual form. It is popular houseplant and bonsai cultivated throughout the world as a pot plant and outdoors in the tropics.

Adenium obesum requires a sunny location and a minimum indoor temperature in winter of 5 °C. It thrives on a xeric watering regime as required by cacti. This plant should be grown in full sun in potting soil appropriate for cacti and succulents and in a pot with good drainage holes. When plant has resting period (due to cool weather) should be kept dry.

Pollination is by insects with a long slender proboscis. Fruits mature 2–3 months after pollination. They can also endure a drought or cold-induced dormancy of several months as occurs in the natural habitat.

Caution is needed when using pesticides as Adenium obesum is sensitive to many formulations containing oil.