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Cultivars of Adenium somalense None? I don't know of any selected cultivars of this species that are important to adenium horticulture. If you know of any, please submit photos and a description using this form . Due credit will be given.

Hybrids containing Adenium crispum & swazicum Hybrids between these two species have been made by a few people. The expectations for primary (1st generation) hybrids: Adenium swazicum should contribute round flowers with solid, intense petal color, dark throats, and massive roots. Adenium crispum should contribute narrow leaves with white veins, and small, star-shaped flowers with nectar guides extending well onto the petals. A. crispum is heavily dominant in hybrids with A. "obesum ", so I expect it to do so in this hybrid group. These young plants show traits from both parents. A. swazicum shows in the nearly solid petal color and dark throat, and short anther tails. A. crispum influence is revealed in the nectar guides onto the petals, and the narrow leaves with white veins. I expect that mature plants will have massive caudex and roots. Mr. Vaghela named the cross Krishna as a group, not a cultivar name for one clone. Photos: Hiren Vaghela.

Adenium "obesum " Roem. & Schult. Adenium "obesum" occurs in southeastern Kenya, eastern Tanzania, and northeastern Mozambique. The specific epithet is enclosed in double quotation marks because it's an incorrect name. See the nomenclature issues page for explanation. Cultivated plants of Adenium "obesum" are usually spreading shrubs with weak branches that tend to droop. Some selected cultivars are upright. Most plants have poorly developed caudexes, but a few will produce big ones with time. The flowers are the largest in the genus, typically 2 to 3 inches in diameter, and some cultivars exceed 4 inches. Petal color of wild plants is usually pink on the margins, gradually fading to white at the white or yellow throat. Modern cultivars display a wide range of brilliant colors, some with little or no fading toward the center. Flowering peaks in spring, with a smaller peak in autumn. The best cultivars are nearly everblooming. Nectar guides in the throat are usually faint or absent. The anther appendages extend to the edge of the throat or a little beyond. This is the only species that does not have a requisite winter dormant period; it can grow year round under tropical conditions. Even if dried out in winter, it tends to remain evergreen. Adenium "obesum" and its hybrids are the most common adeniums in cultivation. They have been highly selected, and are now available in a wide range of colors, including white, purple, red, and yellow. There are also bicolors, double flowers, and mutants with variegated or colored leaves. See the gallery of superior cultivars for examples of modern varieties. Above: A typical wild type Adenium "obesum" from the early 1980s. Notice the pink flowers and neglible caudex. This plant is much more upright than is typical of the species. See flower below. Above: A. "obesum" 'Red Everbloomer ', a 4-year old cutting. Image below is its flower. This is a Dimmitt selection resulting from 3 generations of breeding darker-flowered plants. Above: A. "obesum" 'Red Cloud', a Taiwan selection from 2000. The Taiwan Red strain typically has large, shiny green leaves. There are many cultivars with superb red flowers. Flower closeup is below. Above: Flowers of a typical wild type A. "obesum" . Other colors are rare in the wild. Note the fading of petal color toward the throat in all of the images of this species. Above: A. "obesum" 'Red Everbloomer '. When it first flowered in 1980, it was an excellent and exciting new color. Today it's mediocre. This is how far adenium breeding has come in 25 years. Above: A. "obesum" 'Red Cloud'. This was the best plant from 1000 seeds imported from Taiwan in 1999. See plant above. Above: A. "obesum " 'Black Ruby '. This clone flowers profusely and develops a tall, conical caudex; the plant is a 7 year old graft (the rootstock has been cropped off the image). It appears to be of the Taiwan Red strain, but it is more cold tolerant than most of those plants bred in the tropics. Above: Flower of A. "obesum" 'Black Ruby '. This cultivar was discovered in the early 1990s in a Florida nursery by James Georgusis. Beyond that its origin is unknown. The flower quality has been surpassed by numerous Taiwan selections, but this is still a great plant because of its substantial caudex, which is cylindrical or narrowly conical. Above: A. "obesum " 'Incandescent'. This is an offspring of 'Black Ruby' bred by Dimmitt in 2001. A. "obesum " 'Incandescent' flowers profusely nearly year-round. A. "obesum ", a good early pink cultivar bred by Ashish Hansoti. A. "obesum" 'MAD #286', a pink picotee with yellow throat bred by Dimmitt from Ashish Hansoti stock A. "obesum " in Vietnam. The one on the left shows the species' typical lack of a caudex. These plants have been potted higher to expose the thick roots. The plant on the right has developed a succulent trunk, which is technically not a caudex. Photo: Bev Tall. These two screenshots are from the 1971 Bruce Lee martial arts movie Big Boss (aka Fists of Fury). The final scene was filmed on an estate in Thailand, where there were numerous potted A. "obesum " around the property. Adeniums were very rare in cultivation that long ago. All of the plants are very similar - non-caudiciform shrubs with pink flowers. They're probably the same clone, grown from cuttings. Above and right: Ashish Hansoti's Tropica Nursery near Mumbai. Photos taken in 2008 of his collection of A. "obesum " that he acquired during the 1980s. There was very little diversity in adeniums at the time. Photo on right: Kevin Barber. Back to Top Above: John Lucas at his Tradewinds South Nursery (Florida) pollinating his huge specimen of A. "obesum " 'Big Mama' in the 1990s. This plant appears to have a true caudex between the roots and stems. Adenium "obesum" in the Wild Above and right: Adenium "obesum" near Nairobi, Kenya. The caudexes are underground. Some of these wild plants can be underwhelming. Photos: Robert H. Webb Above: Adenium "obesum" near Mombasa, Kenya. Photo: Gaetano Moschetti Above: Adenium "obesum" near Mombasa, Kenya. Photo: Gaetano Moschetti Above: Flowers of an Adenium "obesum" near Mombasa, Kenya. Photo: Gaetano Moschetti Above: Adenium "obesum" near Lake Natron,Tanzania. The usually subterranean roots have either been exposed by erosion, or because the plant is growing in rocky ground. Photo: Robert H. Webb Above: Adenium "obesum" near Samburo West, Kenya. The petals are darker than is typical of the species. Photo: Robert H. Webb Above: Adenium "obesum" near Salaita Hill, Kenya. Photo: James Culverwell. Back to Top Above: Adenium "obesum " "Mombasa form", grown from seed collected from the well-known population along the Nairobi-Mombasa road, Kenya. 1. This population is known to grow large caudexes. 2. Not all wild adeniums have beautiful flowers. Photos: David Palzkill. Footnotes

Back to Gallery Cultivars of Adenium boehmianum None? I don't know of any selected cultivars of this species that are important to adenium horticulture. If you know of any, please submit photos and a description using this form . Due credit will be given.

Cultivation What is Dormancy? What is Actively Growing? Adenium "arabicum " cultivar 'MAD 965' Adenium Culture Characteristics of Adenium Species Anchor 1 Download PDF: Anchor 2 Download PDF: Dormancy In botany, "dormant" means not actively growing. Dormant plants may retain leaves and still conduct photosynthesis, and they may also flower. Dormant and deciduous. Water consumption is nearly zero. Adenium "arabicum". In leaf, but dormant because no new leaves are being produced. Adenium "obesum". Water such plants sparingly; it doesn't consume much in this state. In leaf, but dormant because no new leaves are being produced. Adenium "obesum". Water such plants sparingly; it doesn't consume much in this state. Dormant and deciduous, but flowering. Water use is still minimal. Adenium "arabicum" 'Hansoti Dwarf'. In leaf and flowering, but it's still dormant because no new leaves are being produced. This plant uses much less water than when it is growing new stems. Adenium "arabicum" In some adeniums part or all of the foliage will suddenly turn yellow and fall. This plant has entered dormancy and watering must be sharply reduced or stopped. Adenium crispum X "obesum" hybrid 'New Star'. The dormant plant is flanked by two other crispum hybrids that are still actively growing. Growing and Active In botany, "dormant" means not actively growing. Dormant plants may retain leaves and still conduct photosynthesis, and they may also flower. This Adenium socotranum is breaking dormancy. Water use is still low, but it needs some to stimulate waking up. This 'Arabian Ruby' was evergreen through the winter, and is now breaking dormancy by producing new leaves in spring. Growing: The soft green stem of this 'Crimson Star' reveals active stem elongation as well as rapid new leaf production. This 'Arabian Ruby' was evergreen through the winter, and is now breaking dormancy by producing new leaves in spring. Active. Not dormant, but not really growing either. If kept warm and moist in winter, some adeniums continue making new leaves at a slow pace, but stem elongation is minimal. Water use is much less than during the summer growing season. Footnotes

Superior Cultivars of Adenium "arabicum " 'Carol Ann' (MAD-978) 'Shada Tree' 'MAD 956' Fat Guys Soodah Dwarf 'MAD 988' 'Hansoti Dwarf' 'Yemeni Giant' 'MAD 1004' 'Ram Gandhi' 'MAD 953' 'MAD 1083' 'Sheila Collenette' 'Carol Ann' (MAD978) Parentage: Adenium "arabicum", self-set seed from 'Yemeni Giant' Creator: Mark Dimmitt selection, sown 2009. Plant form: A spreading shrub with a massive squat caudex. Mother plant at left is 3 feet tall x 4 feet wide at 13 years old. It's about half the size of its seed parent, but larger than dwarf "arabicum" clones. Potentially evergreen; does not require a dry winter rest. Flower: Round to semi-star shaped, 73 mm in diameter x 31 mm petal width, wide dark pink to almost red petal edge, fading to near white at throat. Yellow throat with prominent nectar guides. The plant tends to flower repeatedly throughout the year if grown warm. Notes: The most prominent trait is its indeterminate inflorescences . The flower count can well surpass 50, so a single inflorescence can be in bloom for two months or more. Named in memory of John Bliznak's mother. Back to Menu Flower of Adenium "arabicum " 'Carol Ann'. During the summer peak bloom, 'Carol Ann' inflorescences can produce more than 50 flowers over a period of two to three months. Above: An unnamed, fairly typical clone of the Fat Guys strain: a compact shrub with big caudex and small pink flowers. (This caudex is smaller than average.) Most clones bloom only in spring. Photo: Gene Joseph. Fat Guys strain Parentage: Adenium "arabicum " 'Ram Gandhi' x 'Hansoti Dwarf' Creator: Mark Dimmitt cross 2009. Plant form: Medium-sized, spreading shrubs with relatively large squat caudexes. Their size is closer to the dwarf pollen parent than the large seed parent. All clones seem not to require a dry winter rest. Flowers: Almost all clones have pink petals that fade to near white at throat. A few have petals that are red on the outer half, fading to dark pink at the throats. Throats and nectar guides variable. Most bloom only in spring. See individual cv. descriptions for flower sizes. Notes: This is not a single cultivar, but a strain (grex) consisting of all the offspring from these two parents. Some clones within this group have been given cv. names, e.g., 'Fat Guy MAD670'. Their popularity stems from their consistently compact size with fat caudexes and good vigor. A few are also good bloomers. Back to Menu Left: Plant and flower of 'Fat Guy MAD670'. The plant is about 2 x 2 feet at 10 years old. Flower: Semi-star, 58 mm diameter x 25 mm petal width; Outer half of petals medium red, fading to pink at throat. (Red "arabicum" flowers are quite rare.) Throat yellowish with few nectar guides. Unlike most Fat Guys, this clone flowers profusely in spring and sporadically all year. Right: Plant, flower, and caudex of 'Fat Guy MAD671'. The plant is about 3 x 2 feet at 10 years old. The caudex in the closeup is 12 years old; the ruler is 12 inches/30 cm. Flower: Round, 53 mm diameter x 21 mm petal width; Outer half of petals medium red, fading to pink at throat. (Red "arabicum" flowers are quite rare.) Throat yellowish with prominent nectar guides. Unlike most Fat Guys, this clone flowers profusely in spring and sporadically all year. Parentage: Adenium "arabicum ", wild collection. Origin: The original plant has been grown in India since at least the 1930s. Probably collected on the Aden Peninsula of Yemen (Dimmitt & Edwards 2021). Plant form: A small spreading shrub with a relatively massive caudex. Deciduous; seems to require a dry winter rest. Slow growing. Flower: Round; 65 mm diameter x 26 mm petal width, dark pink to light red depending on temperature(?), fading to pink at throat. Throat yellowish with light red nectar guides. Blooms profusely in spring while leafless. Self fertile; most seedlings strongly resemble the parent. Notes: Named for the original plant's present owner, Ashish Hansoti. This is one parent of the Fat Guys strain, a uniform grex of dwarf plants with big caudexes. Jabal Shamsan on the Aden Peninsula is the type locality for A. "arabicum" 'Hansoti Dwarf' (MAD179) Adenium "arabicum " 'Hansoti Dwarf', 15 year old cutting in 18-inch bonsai pot. Back to Menu Flowers of Adenium "arabicum " 'Hansoti Dwarf'. Flowers are darker in cooler weather & when plant is dry. 'Ram Gandhi' (MAD262) Parentage: Adenium "arabicum " Origin: A Dimmitt selection of the most vigorous plant from a batch of seeds obtained from Dr. Ram Gandhi in 1999. Plant form: A very large spreading shrub with a squat caudex and several greatly swollen main branches. Semi deciduous in winter. Flower: Semi-star; 78 mm diameter x 25 mm petal width, petals dark pink outer half, fading to near-white at throat. Throat yellow with prominent red nectar guides. Blooms profusely in spring and usually has a few flowers year round. Self fertile; most seedlings grow vigorously into large plants. Notes: This is one parent of the Fat Guys strain, a uniform grex of dwarf plants with big caudexes. Above: Flower of Adenium "arabicum " 'Ram Gandhi'. Right: Adenium "arabicum " 'Ram Gandhi at 20 years.The ruler is 12 inches/30 cm. Adenium "arabicum " 'Ram Gandhi', 20 year old seedling in 42 inch pot. The peak spring bloom last about two months. Notice the cauliflory, which is fairly common in A. "arabicum ". Back To Menu Above: Adenium "arabicum " 'Ram Gandhi', 9 years old in an 18 inch inch pot. Below: Same plant at 24 years old in a 42-inch pot. 'Shada Tree' (MAD973) Parentage: Adenium "arabicum ". Origin: A typical example of the arborescent form of the species. Second generation seed from Jabal Shada, Saudi Arabia; produced by C&J Nursery. The original seed was collected by Sheila Collenette, the renowned 20th century plant explorer. Plant form: A tree to at least 10 feet tall with a conical trunk/caudex to at least 4 feet tall. Flower: Small and star-shaped, 60 mm diameter; petal width 25 mm. Petals light pink with narrow dark pink edge. Throat pale white to yellowish with prominent red nectar guides. Blooms profusely in spring and usually has a few flowers year round. Notes: Back To Menu Flower of 'Shada Tree #973'. Adenium "arabicum" 'Shada Tree #973'. The plant shown above is 9 feet tall in an 18 -inch pot at 14 years from seed (left) and 15 years. Photo above right: Peter L. Kresan. Left: Closeup of the trunk/caudex of 'Shada Tree #973' at 14 years old. The ruler is 12 inches/30 cm. Above two images: Adenium "arabicum" 'Sheila Collenette' planted in the ground in a glass greenhouse with no climate controls. Left: the plant at 9 years old; right: 24 years old . The scars on the older plant are frost damage from 11 degrees F (-12 C) that occurred 8 years earlier. This species is quite hardy if the soil is dry. It's surrounded by Stapelia gigantea . 'Sheila Collenette' Parentage: Adenium "arabicum ". Origin: Seed from Jabal Shada, Saudi Arabia. Collected by Sheila Collenette, the renowned 20th century plant explorer. Plant form: A spreading shrub to 6 feet tall and 8 feet wide with a massive caudex and swollen main branches. Flower: Small and star-shaped, 45 mm diameter; petal width 12 mm. Petals light pink with narrow dark pink edge. Throat pale white to yellowish with prominent red nectar guides. Blooms profusely in spring. Notes: Jabal Shada is a large mountain that has both shrubby and arborescent adeniums, as well as frost-pruned dwarfs at high elevation. Back to Menu Soodah Dwarf strain Three images above and left: Adenium "arabicum" 'Soodah Dwarf MAD483'. Flowers star-shaped, 50 mm diameter x 13 mm petal width; yellow throat with no nectar guides. High flower count (indeterminate, 50+ per inflorescence). Blooms repeatedly throughout the year, including winter if kept warm. Tends to be evergreen. Plant at upper left is 7 years old; left is15 years.. Ruler is 12 inches/30 cm. Parentage: A. "arabicum " Origin: Descendants of seeds from a dwarf plant on Jabal Soodah, Raidah Escarpment near Abha, Saudi Arabia, near the headwaters of Wadi Muraba. Seeds were collected from a single plant by Tom McCoy . This strain consists of the offspring from 4 plants selected from 14 original plants grown from wild seeds. Plant form: Consistently small, spreading, profusely branching shrubs with large, squat caudexes. Most clones are evergreen. Flowers: Small and pink; petals fade to near white at throat. Some clones have high flower counts (at least 10 per inflorescence). Throats yellow; no nectar guides. They bloom profusely in spring, and sporadically throughout the warm months. See individual cv. descriptions for flower details. Notes: This is not a single cultivar, but a strain (grex) consisting of all the offspring from 4 selected seedlings. Interestingly, there were "normal" sized plants on the same hill, but the dozens of seedlings from the dwarf plant grown by various people were all dwarf. A few clones have been given cv. names. Back to Menu Above 3 images: Adenium "arabicum" 'Soodah Dwarf MAD484'. Flowers star-shaped, 42 mm diameter x 11 mm petal width; yellow throat with no nectar guides. High flower count (15-20 per inflorescence). Blooms repeatedly throughout the year, including winter if kept warm. Tends to be evergreen. Plant at left is 4 years old in an 8 inch pot. Above: Adenium "arabicum" 'Soodah Dwarf MAD530'. Flowers semi-star-shaped, 48 mm diameter x 16 mm petal width; yellow throat with no nectar guides. High flower count (about 10 per inflorescence). Blooms repeatedly throughout the year, including winter if kept warm. Tends to be evergreen. Plant at left is 8 years old; right is14 years. Ruler is 12 inches/30 cm. Adenium "arabicum " 'Yemeni Giant', the original seedling at 10 years old, six feet high in a 42" pot. Flowers of 'Yemeni Giant' 'Yemeni Giant' [MAD186] Parentage: Adenium "arabicum" Origin: One of numerous seedlings grown by Chuck Hanson ca. 1998; selected and named by Dimmitt. The seeds were from Frank Horwood's large-flowered clone collected in Yemen. Plant form: A vigorous, freely branching shrub with a massive caudex and lower branches. Larger plants are almost evergreen. Flower: Round, 65 mm diameter x 28 mm petal width; petals white to pale pink with an indistinct light pink border. Throat yellow with prominent red nectar guides. Blooms profusely in spring, with a few flowers throughout the rest of the year. Notes: Adenium "arabicum " 'Yemeni Giant', a six year old cutting in a 12" pot. It's a myth that adenium cuttings don't form caudexes. They will IF the mother plant is caudiciform. Flowers of 'Yemeni Giant' Back to Menu 'MAD 953' Parentage: Adenium "arabicum ", selfing of 'Hansoti Dwarf'. Creator: Dimmitt, 2010. Plant form: This unnamed clone is a compact shrub, taller than wide, with a short-conical caudex. Plant shown is about 2 feet tall x 1.5 feet wide at 11 years old. Performs better with a dry winter rest. Flower: Round, 60 mm diameter x 23 mm petal width. Petals bright red with little fading toward throat. Throat yellow with faint nectar guides. Blooms profusely in spring. Notes: Almost all A. "arabicum" have pink flowers. 'Hansoti Dwarf' has darker pink to light red flowers. I have obtained about a half-dozen good reds out of a few hundred seedlings grown. The color is not stable; it tends to be more pink in hot weather (>100 F/38 C). Back to Menu 'MAD965' Parentage: Adenium "arabicum ", 'Hansoti Dwarf' x 'Petch Ban Na'. Creator: Dimmitt, 2010. Plant form: This unnamed clone is a compact erect shrub, taller than wide, with a large squat caudex. Plant shown is about 2 feet tall x 1.5 feet wide at 10 years old. Performs better with a dry winter rest. Flower: Round to almost circular, 65 mm diameter x 34 mm petal width. Petals pale pink with a narrow bright pink edge. Throat yellowish with no nectar guides. Blooms profusely in spring. Notes: Back to Menu 'MAD988' Parentage: A. "arabicum ", second generation selfing of 'Hansoti Dwarf'. Creator: Dimmitt, 2009. Plant form: A compact, many-branched shrub with a relatively huge globular caudex. Plant shown is 12 years from seed, about 1.5 feet tall and wide in a 14-inch pot. Flower: Round, 46 mm diameter x 21 mm petal width. Petals medium red, fading slightly near base; throat white with prominent nectar guides. Flowers massively in spring. Notes: This clone closely resembles the "Thai socos" of Asia, but it is a descendant of an old wild-collected plant. Back to Menu 'MAD1004' Parentage: Adenium "arabicum ", 'Hansoti Dwarf' x self. Creator: Dimmitt, 2013. Plant form: This unnamed clone is a compact erect shrub, taller than wide, with a large short-conical caudex. Plant shown is about 2 feet tall x 1.5 feet wide at 6 years old. Performs better with a dry winter rest. Flower: Round, 60 mm diameter x 28 mm petal width. Petals deep red with with almost no fading toward throat. Throat white with faing nectar guides. Blooms in spring. Notes: Almost all A. "arabicum" have pink flowers. 'Hansoti Dwarf' has darker pink to light red flowers. I have obtained about a half-dozen good reds out of a few hundred seedlings grown. The color is not stable; it tends to be more pink in hot weather (>100 F/38 C). Back to Menu 'MAD1083' Parentage: Adenium "arabicum ", 'Hansoti Dwarf' x 'Petch Ban Na'. Creator: Dimmitt, 2010. Plant form: This unnamed clone is a compact erect shrub with a large short-conical caudex. Plant shown is about 2 feet tall and wide at 11 years old. Performs better with a dry winter rest. Flower: Round, 60 mm diameter x 27 mm petal width. Petals medium pink edge, fading to near-white inner half. Throat yellow with prominent red nectar guides. Blooms profusely in spring. Notes: Back to Menu

Superior Cultivars of Adenium "obesum" x swazicum "Beauty Of Tiawan' 'Evelyn Marie' 'National Beauty' 'Calypso' 'Gemini' 'Pink Elegance' 'Volcanic Sunset' 'Crimson Star' 'Jade Lotus' 'Rainbow' 'Endless Sunset' 'Little Ruby' 'Red Ribbons' 'White Jade Peony' 'Beauty of Taiwan' (aka 'Taiwan Beauty') Parentage: Adenium "obesum" x A. swazicum complex hybrid. Creator: Unknown; Taiwan origin. Plant : Spreading shrub with lush foliage of large leaves. Known only as grafted plants? Evergreen? Flower: Circular, large. Color somewhat variable. Petals usually uniform light pink with very slight fading toward throat. Sometimes petals blush with slightly darker pink edge. Throat solid deep red. Renowned for blooming profusely. Notes: This cv. was popular in Bangkok, Thailand nurseries in 2000. It's exceptionally elegant and is hopefully still on the market. Above: A large specimen of 'Beauty of Taiwan' in Bangkok. This specimen is multiple grafts on a giant rootstock, probably somalense . Photo: Ashish Hansoti. Above: A young grafted plant of 'Beauty of Taiwan'. Above: The flowers of 'Beauty of Taiwan' vary somewhat with weather. Back to Menu Above left: 'Calypso' is a lush shrub whose foliage can conceal its branch structure. Above right: It can be pruned to create an erect shrub that exposes it sculptural form. 'Calypso' Parentage: Adenium "obesum" x swazicum complex hybrid. Creator: Richard J. (Jake) Henny, Florida, USA, ca. 1986. Plant form: Vigorous, spreading to drooping shrub with massive roots. Flower: Star-shaped, 82 mm diameter x 28 mm petal width. Petals brilliant pink, fading somewhat toward throat. Throat light pink with faint nectar guides. Flowers almost continuously. Notes: The pale throat of this cv. indicates that it is probably a second generation backcross to the "obesum " parent. This is one of the earliest named adenium hybrids, and still a plant worthy to be in collections. Back to Menu Left: Two photos of the brilliant flowers of 'Calypso' taken with different cameras and light conditions. 'Crimson Star' Parentage: Adenium "obesum" x swazicum primary hybrid. (A. "obesum " 'Red Everbloomer ' x A. swazicum 'Boyce Thompson ') Creator: Dimmitt, 1985. Plant form: A vigorous shrub with whitish bark, somewhat swollen main stems, and large roots. The foliage is a lighter green than of most adenium plants. Deciduous in winter unless kept very warm. Flower: Semi-star-shaped, 86 mm diameter x 25 mm petal width. Petals deep, solid crimson-red with almost no fading toward the throat. Throat deep red. Flowers 10 months a year, taking a break in midwinter. Notes: 'Crimson Star' and 'Grumbley White' were introduced to the horticultural world in Asia in the early 1990s. They showed that adenium flowers could be had in colors other than the common pink, and this triggered a surge in adenium popularity that continues today. The whitish bark and pale green leaves are diagnostic of this clone. Plants can be pruned to create a spreading shrub or an erect tree. This clone seems to have become senescent, in that cuttings no longer regain their youthful vigor as shown in some of the photos here. Cuttings and grafts grow weakly and don't develop the characteristic massive roots. If anyone has large specimens that were propagated after about 2000, please inform me. I know of no other adenium that has lost its vigor. Above left: a 10-year-old cutting of adenium 'Crimson Star'. This cv. has almost no caudex, but the trunk and main stems thicken nicely, as do the roots. Above right: 'Crimson Star' on a graft. These plants were trained as trees. Above left: a flower of 'Crimson Star' (bottom) with its parents A. "obesum " 'Red Everbloomer' (left) and A. swazicum 'Boyce Thompson'. This old scanned transparency is oversaturated. The photo above right is closer to 'Crimson Star's' color. Notice the centripetal fading of the petals of the "obesum " parent, and the solid color and characteristic dark throat of the hybrid. Above: a 4-year-old cutting of adenium 'Crimson Star', allowed to grow as a shrub. It's about 3 feet wide and was grown in pure peat moss. Adeniums aren't sensitive to potting medium as long as it's well-drained. This plant was grown in the 1990s. Today this clone has become senescent; cuttings no longer rejuvenate and grow this vigorously. Above: Adenium 'Crimson Star' grafted onto 'Arabian Ruby'. Photo: Kevin Barber. Back to Menu Above: Adenium flower color varies with temperature, becoming more pale with increasing temperature. 'Crimson Star' is one of the more sensitive; these flowers opened after a week of 110+ F (43+ C) weather. Above: The author with a 30-year-old cutting of adenium 'Crimson Star' in 2018. It died in 2022, apparently from being overpotted. Beware! Photo: Sarah Clark. Left: Aggressive rot consumed it Nothing lives forever.. Above: The original seedling of adenium 'Endless Sunset' at 14 years old. 'Endless Sunset' Parentage: Adenium "obesum " x swazicum primary hybrid (A. "obesum " 'Red Everbloomer' x A. swazicum 'Perpetual Pink') Creator: Dimmitt,1983. Plant form: Vigorous erect shrub, taller than wide; significantly swollen roots and main stems; evergreen. Flower: Round, 75 mm diameter x 35 mm petal width. Petals have bright pink edges, fading to medium pink at throat. Throat pink with no nectar guides. Flowers year round if kept warm. Notes: This F1 hybrid is unusual in that the fading petals show "obesum " dominance instead of the usual solid color of swazicum hybrids. Above: The flower of adenium 'Endless Sunset'. Back to Menu 'Evelyn Marie' Parentage: Adenium "obesum " x swazicum primary hybrid: (A. "obesum " 'Red Everbloomer' x A. swazicum 'Perpetual Pink') Creator: Dimmitt 1987. Plant form: Vigorous spreading shrub with fairly sturdy branches and immensely swollen roots. Evergreen. Flower: Circular, 78 mm diameter x 38 mm petal width. Petals deep pink with narrow reddish-pink margin; color fades to medium pink at throat. Throat pink with no nectar guides. Blooms year round under tropical conditions. Notes: Named in honor of my mother Evelyn Marie (Steele) Dimmitt. Above: Adenium 'Evelyn Marie', the original seedling at 17 years old. The plant is about 4 x 4 feet in a 24-inch pot. Above: My mother in 2000 with her new namesake adenium. Above: 'Evelyn Marie' grows a massive "caudex", which are actually roots. Above: The flower of adenium 'Evelyn Marie'. Back to Menu 'Gemini' Parentage: Adenium "obesum" x A. swazicum complex hybrid. Creator: Unknown, Taiwan. Plant form: Medium-size shrub with weak stems. Known only on grafts. Semideciduous winter rest. Flower: Star-shaped, large, 97 mm diameter x 26 mm petal width. Petals intense, solid crimson-red except for a white blaze at the petal bases. The blazes connect around the throat to create a starburst effect. Throat black with no nectar guides. Blooms over a long season. Notes: The white starburst helps to accent the intense color of this beautiful cultivar. This trait shows up occasionally in a wide range of hybrids. Above: A small specimen of 'Gemini' grafted onto an A. "arabicum" hybrid rootstock, in a 12-inch pot. Left and above: Doctor, my eyes! (Apologies to Jackson Browne) Back to Menu 'Jade Lotus' Parentage: Adenium "obesum" x A. swazicum ( complex?) hybrid. (or possibly x A. boehmianum ) Creator: Unknown, Taiwan Plant form: Lax spreading shrub with very large leaves. Known only as grafted plants. Flower: Large,circular, 82 mm diameter x 38 mm petal width. Petals uniform pale pink to nearly white depending on temperature. Throat red with no nectar guides. Notes: The big leaves suggest that one parent could be A. boehmianum instead of swazicum . However, this cultivar grows vigorously, and all of my hybrids with boehmianum grow very slowly. Also, I didn't see any A. boehmianum in Taiwan when I was there in 2008. Above: A small specimen of 'Jade Lotus' grafted onto an A. "arabicum" hybrid rootstock, in a 10-inch pot. Back to Menu Above: The flower color of 'Jade Lotus' varies from white to pale pink; probably temperature-related. Above: The original seedling of 'Little Ruby' at about 15 years old. 'Little Ruby' Parentage: Adenium "obesum " x A. swazicum primary hybrid. (A. "obesum " 'Red Everbloomer' x A. swazicum 'Boyce Thompson') Creator: Dimmitt 1985 Plant form : Vigorous spreading shrub with modest caudex development in age. Nearly evergreen. Flower: Smallish, semi-star, 69 mm diameter x 27 mm petal width. Petals crimson, fading slightly toward throat. Throat deep red with no nectar guides. Blooms almost year-round. Notes: The first crossing of these two parent plants produced 'Crimson Star' and 3 other excellent red-flowered clones; the rest were various shades of pink. 'Little Ruby' is similar to 'C Star', but has more floppy stems and smaller flowers. Right: The flower of 'Little Ruby'. Back to Menu 'National Beauty' Parentage: Adenium "obesum" x A. swazicum (complex?) hybrid. (or possibly x boehmianum ) Creator: J.F. Suen, Taiwan, before 2008 Plant form: A vigorous, upright to spreading shrub with very large leaves. Known only as grafted plants. Tends to be deciduous in winter. Flower: Very large, round to nearly circular, 91 mm diameter x 40 mm petal width. Petals vary from uniform intense crimson to purple, to purplish-pink in hottest weather and with age. Throat black. Flowers throughout the warm seasons. Notes: The big leaves suggest that one parent could be A. boehmianum instead of swazicum . However, this cultivar grows vigorously, and all of my hybrids with boehmianum grow very slowly. Also, I didn't see any A. boehmianum in Taiwan when I was there in 2008. Back to Menu Above left: grafted specimen of adenium 'National Beauty', 13 years old in a 15-inch pot. Above right: A triple-grafted plant of 'National Beauty'. The four flower images show variation in the color of 'National Beauty' in different temperature conditions. The deepest colors develop during hot weather, but below about 104 degrees F (40 C). 'Pink Elegance' Parentage: Unknown; Adenium "obesum" x A. swazicum hybrid, (probably backcrossed to "obesum ") Creator: Probably Dimmitt, before 2001 Plant form: A vigorous, upright shrub with a large pseudocaudex (swollen roots). Flower: Round, 85 mm diameter x 32 mm petal width. Petals light pink with narrow dark pink margin; color fades to near-white at throat. Throat red with no nectar guides. Blooms throughout the warm months. Notes: This cv. was found in a batch of seedlings grown by Gene Joseph of Plants for the Southwest Nursery. It grows well from cuttings and soon develops the big roots of the mother plant. Above: Flowers of 'Pink Elegance' Above: A cutting-grown plant of 'Pink Elegance' in a 12-inch bulb pan. The swazicum parentage really shows in the massive roots. Back to Menu 'Rainbow' Parentage: Adenium "obesum" x A. swazicum (primary?) hybrid. Creator: Unknown, Taiwan, before 2008. Plant form: A medium-sized shrub with weak, floppy stems. Known only as grafted plants. Evergreen, lush foliage. Flower: Round, very large, 107 mm diameter x 44 mm petal width. Petals uniform brilliant crimson; throat blackish-red. Blooms in two or three flushes during the warm months. Notes: The plant needs pruning every few years to maintain a compact form. Above: A new flower of 'Rainbow' (left) and a week-old one (right). Back to Menu Above: A grafted plant of 'Rainbow' in a 14-inch pot. 'Red Ribbons' Parentage: Adenium "obesum " x A. swazicum primary hybrid: (A. "obesum " 'Red Everbloomer' x A. swazicum 'Boyce Thompson') Creator: Dimmitt 1985 Plant form : A spreading shrub with sturdy main stems, no caudex, and moderately swollen roots. Nearly evergreen. Flower: Very large, star-shaped with long, narrow petals, 110 mm diameter x 30 mm petal width. Petals deep red-pink margins, fading to light pink at the throat. Throat red with no nectar guides. Blooms almost year-round. Notes: The first crossing of these two parent plants produced 'Crimson Star' and 3 other excellent red-flowered clones; the rest were various shades of pink. 'Red Ribbons' is similar to 'C Star', but has lighter colored flowers. Above: A cutting-grown 'Red Ribbons' in an 18-inch pot. Above: Flower of 'Red Ribbons'. Back to Menu Above: A cutting-grown 'Volcanic Sunset' in an 18-inch pot. 'Volcanic Sunset' Parentage: Adenium "obesum " x A. swazicum primary hybrid: (A. "obesum " 'Red Everbloomer' x A. swazicum 'Boyce Thompson') Creator: Dimmitt 1985 Plant form : A spreading shrub with sturdy main stems, no caudex, and moderately swollen roots. Nearly evergreen. Flower: Large, star-shaped, 95 mm diameter x 25 mm petal width. Petals deep red margins, fading to light pink at the throat. Throat red with no nectar guides. Blooms almost year-round. Notes: The first crossing of these two parent plants produced 'Crimson Star' and 3 other excellent red-flowered clones; the rest were various shades of pink. 'Volcanic Sunset' is similar to 'C Star', but has larger, lighter colored flowers. Back to Menu Above: The original seedling of 'Volcanic Sunset' at 14 years old in a 22-inch pot. 'White Jade Peony' Parentage: Adenium "obesum" x A. swazicum (complex?) hybrid. Creator: Unknown, Taiwan, before 2008. Plant form: A spreading shrub with lush foliage. Known only as grafted plants. Flower: Circular, 85 mm diameter x 40 mm petal width. Petals uniform brilliant white. Throat light yellow with dark base, no nectar guides. Blooms two or three times a year. Notes: A. swazicum parentage intensifies even white flowers. Above: A small grafted plant of 'White Jade Peony' in a 10-inch pot. Back to Menu Above: The flower of 'White Jade Peony'.

Nomenclature Issues The nomenclature of adeniums has two interconnected errors, as detailed in Dimmitt and Edwards 2021 . Here is the short version: 1. The first adenium was described by Forsskal in 1775. The type specimen was a plant from Milhan, western Yemen. He thought that it was a succulent oleander and named it Nerium obesum . 2. In 1819 Roemer and Schultes decided that this plant belonged in its own genus and renamed it Adenium obesum (Forssk.) Roem. & Schult.. 3. In 1888 Balfour Jr. described a plant from Jabal Shamsan on the Aden Peninsula of Yemen as Adenium arabicum . 4. Since then most botanists have come to the opinion that all of the adeniums in Saudi Arabia and Yemen are the same species. The DNA analysis (Dimmitt and Edwards 2021 ) verified this opinion. The rules of nomenclature dictate that when two published species are determined to be the same, the earlier publication has priority. Therefore Adenium obesum is the valid name for all adeniums on the Arabian Peninsula (except for those in Oman and far southeastern Yemen that were segregated as A. dhofarense ). 5. But recognizing correct name for the Saudi Arabian and Yemeni adeniums would cause confusion because there are plants in East Africa named A. “obesum ”. They are different from the Arabian plants, so they need a new name. Here’s where it gets complicated: 6. Dimmitt and Edwards’ study found that A. “obesum”, A. somalense, and A. crispum in East Africa are genetically so similar (in the 5 loci sequenced) that their taxonomic level can’t be confidently determined. They could be three distinct species, or one highly variable species. Furthermore, there are no known specimens of adeniums from the Sahel region from Sudan to Senegal that are available to be studied, so we have no idea what species (singular or plural) that they belong to. Several other species have been published from this East Africa/Sahel region whose identities are also not settled. These include A. arboreum, coetanum, honghel, micranthum, speciosum, and tricholepis. 7. To settle these issues, much more field work and DNA analysis of the adeniums in East Africa and the Sahel are needed. If anyone can obtain leaves, seeds, or photos of these plants, especially from Ethiopia westward, they would have tremendous scientific and horticultural value. Footnotes

Superior Cultivars of Adenium "obesum " Back to Gallery 'Amiability' 'Arrogant' 'Big Mama' 'Black Asia' 'Black Ruby' 'Daeng Siam' 'Golden Sun' 'Great General' 'Grumbley White' 'La Hong Thong' 'Home Run' 'Red Everbloomer' 'Red Henny 4n' 'Royal Robe' 'Snow Lotus' 'Tradewinds #20' 'Amiability' Parentage: Adenium "obesum " Creator: Received from Ming Huey Chen, Taiwan, with note: "Ming Huey #7, long-time favorite Taiwan Red strain. Looks like 'Daeng Nabanant, but much more vigorous. " Plant form: A sturdy, erect shrub, taller than wide, with large bright green leaves. Tends to be evergreen. Plant at right is 7 years old on a graft, about 3 feet x 2 feet. Flower: Round, 105 mm diameter x 50 mm petal width. Petals bright red with almost no fading near throat. Petals often have a narrow black edge in mild weather. Throat white with no nectar guides. Blooms mostly in spring and fall. Notes: As described above, this is an early member of the Taiwan Red strain, distinguished by their large bright green leaves and impressively big, bright red flowers. This clone's stems are unusually sturdy for the species. Left: Under ideal conditions, new flowers of 'Amiability' have a black edge, which fades with age as shown in the inflorescence at right. Back to Menu Above and below: A greenhouse full of 'Arrogant' at T.W. Lee's nursery in Taiwan. 'Arrogant' Parentage: Adenium "obesum " Creator: Unknown, Taiwan; widely produced by 2008. Plant form: A spreading shrub with small caudex when grown on own roots. Large bright green leaves, evergreen. Stems fairly sturdy for the species. Flower: Round, very large, 95 mm diameter x 41 mm petal width. Petals deep velvety red, with black margin in mild weather; almost no fading toward throat. Throat white or yellowish with faint nectar guides. Notes: This clone is one of the early members of the Taiwan Red strain, distinguished by their large bright green leaves and impressively big, bright red flowers. The cv. name 'Arrogant' is a literal translation of the Chinese name Chien Jiao (?); a better translation would be something like "Charming". Back to Menu Above: a flower of 'Arrogant' at its best. 'Big Mama' Parentage: Adenium "obesum " Creator: unknown Plant form: Giant shrub with massive caudex (swollen roots), much larger than is typical of the species. Flower: Small, star-shaped, petals have pink edge (closeup is oversaturated) with light pink interior, bright yellow throat with faint nectar guides. Notes: John Lucas formerly of Tradewinds South Nursery in Florida, pollinating 'Big Mama' in 1999. Photos: Walter Michot. Back to Menu '(Double) Black Asia' Parentage: Adenium "obesum " Creator: ? Plant form: Very weak stems can't support the heavy flowers; needs regular pruning. Flower: Fully double (flore pleno); in mild weather the petals are saturated dark red with sharp black edges. In hot weather or with age flowers are solid medium-red. The flowers often fail to open because the numerous petals get stuck. Notes: It isn't clear whether the cv. name should include "double". Back to Menu Right: The stems of this cv. are too weak to support the flowers. 'Black Ruby' Parentage: Adenium "obesum " Creator/Origin: Discovered in a Florida nursery by James Georgusis and introduced by John Lucas of Tradewinds South Nursery in the early 1990s. Plant form: Medium-sized shrub with an unusually well-developed conical caudex for this species; stems typically weak. Flower: Semi-star-shaped, 83 mm diameter x 31 mm wide petals; petals deep red with sharp black margins; white throat with no nectar guides. In very hot weather the black margin does not develop and the flowers are medium-red. Blooms profusely in spring and sporadically at other seasons. Notes: This is one of the first bright red-flowered adeniums to appear in the USA. The plant looks like it may be of the Taiwan Red strain, but its origin has not been traced. It is the parent of numerous early hybrids. Above left: 'Black Ruby' in full bloom. The grafted plant is about 8 years old. Above right: A four-year-old cutting already has a good conical caudex. Back to Menu Above left: A new flower of 'Black Ruby' in perfect condition. Above right: In hot weather or with age the flowers lose the black edge. 'Daeng Siam' Parentage: Adenium "obesum " Creator: Unknown; probably originated in Taiwan, where almost all adenium breeders were at the time. I found it at Somsak's nursery in Bangkok in 2000. Plant form: Medium-sized, spreading shrub with modest caudex. Tends to be evergreen. Flower: Round, 88 mm diameter x 33 mm petal width. New flowers are red with narrow purple margins, fading in a week to rich pink with lavender margins. Throat yellowish to white with no nectar guides. Blooms profusely in spring with a lesser flush in autumn. Notes : When I found this plant in 2000, the vendors were excited to promote the "new color". But I found almost identical plants under different names at other nurseries and in other countries, including Champoo Taiwan, Optimize, Red Sang Ped, and Daeng Saeng Petch. I also found a pure red "obesum" in Thailand named Daeng Siam. Whatever this clone is called, even better bicolors are available today. For example, see ' Royal Robe ' . Above: This four-year-old cutting of 'Daeng Siam' is about two feet tall and wide in a 14-inch pot. Near-right: A new flower of 'Daeng Siam' in perfect condition. Far right: An inflorescence showing color change with age. Back to Menu 'Golden Sun' Parentage: Adenium "obesum " Creator: Unknown, Taiwan before 2008. Plant form: Known only on grafts, it's a medium-sized shrub with very weak stems. Flower: Quite large, round: 97 mm diameter x 45 mm petal width. Petals white with broad deep red margin. Throat white with a few prominent nectar guides. Notes: There were already several cultivars with very similar flowers by 2008, and all that I saw had weak stems. This is pure A. "obesum ", not A. multiflorum , because it blooms during the warm season while in leaf. Some vendors erroneously sell such plants with picoteed flowers as multiflorum . Back to Menu Above: Adeniums with red-picoteed flowers are sometimes confused with A. multiflorum . But flowering in during the growing season with leaves is proof that they are A. "obesum ". Above: Five-year-old Adenium 'Great General' grafted onto a sturdy rootstock. Plant is about two feet high and three feet wide in a 14-inch pot. 'Great General' Parentage: Adenium "obesum " Creator: C.F. Chang, Taiwan, before 2008. Plant form: A large, vigorous, spreading to drooping shrub. Sold only as grafted plants; on its own roots it's a weak grower with almost no caudex. The stems are weak and need pruning every few years to maintain an attractive shape. Flower: Huge, round to nearly circular (if the petals were not ruffled), 98 mm diameter x 46 mm petal width. Petals intense crimson with almost no fading toward the throat. Throat pure white with no nectar guides. Blooms profusely in spring. Notes: This cv. is outstanding for more than its huge almost 4-inch flowers. It's a natural tetraploid "obesum ", the only one that I've encountered. It can therefore hybridize with the naturally 4n species A. "arabicum " and its 4n interspecific hybrids. The offspring are often very large plants with huge deep red flowers; but the stems and caudexes still need improvement. Back to Menu Above: The magnificent flower of 'Great General'. 'Grumbley White' (aka 'Snowbell', Rowley 1999*), aka 'Ina White'? Parentage: Adenium "obesum" Origin: Wild origin. Plant form: Medium-sized, fairly erect shrub with small caudex. Flower: Star-shaped, 65 mm diameter x 18 mm petal width. Petals pure white; throat white with no nectar guides. Blooms mostly in spring. Notes : Ken Oulton of Malindi, Kenya collected it. Tom Grumbley, also of Malindi, propagated and shared it with Seymour Linden and Gerald Barad in the USA in 1992. They distributed it as 'Grumbley White'. At about the same time an apparently identical plant appeared in Asia called 'Ina White'. Rowley (1999) published the US cv. as 'Snowbell'. This clone is one of two that probably triggered the surge in adenium popularity that began in the 1990s. Combined with the introduction of 'Crimson Star', it showed Asian growers that adeniums could be had in colors other than the common pink. This spindly shrub and its small flowers are mediocre by today's standards, but most of the white-flowered A. "obesum" in cultivation are probably descended from 'Grumbley White'. Above: A 14-year-old cutting of 'Grumbley White' in a 16-inch pot. The stems are thin, but still sturdier than those of most "obesum". Left: The small flower of 'Grumbley White'. Check out modern white-flowered "obesum" cultivars to see what breeders have created from this humble wild plant. Back to Menu 'La Hong Thong' NEED PHOTO OF PLANT Parentage: Adenium "obesum" Origin: Unknown; already widely available in Bangkok, Thailand in 2000. Plant form: Medium-sized shrub with fairly sturdy stems and modest caudex. Tends to be evergreen. Flower: Round, medium-sized, 78 mm diameter x 32 mm petal width; outer 2/3 of petals bright red, fading to white at throat. Throat white with no nectar guides. One of the earliest adeniums to have a high flower count - more than twice the standard of 5 per inflorescence. Notes: This cv. is indistinguishable from 'Tropical Sun', which was sold in the USA in the early 2000s Back to Menu 'Home Run' Parentage: A. "obesum " Creator: Juin Shen Lee, Taiwan, before 2000. Plant form: Typical for the species: a weak-stemmed shrub with little caudex development. Almost always grafted onto big rootstocks. Large leaves are semi-evergreen. Flower: very large, 105 mm diameter x 48 mm petal width (4+ inches!). Petal color of newly-opened flowers varies with temperature. The most stunning variant has deep, velvety-red petals with no fading toward the throat, and a black margin. The margin may be narrow, or sometimes the outer halves of the petals are black, feathering into the red lower halves. In hot weather (>100F/38C) the flowers open pure red. In all cases flowers fade to lighter shades as they age. Blooms profusely in spring, often with a smaller flush in autumn. Notes: This is probably the best of the Taiwan Red strain, distinguished by large bright green leaves and large bright red flowers. The Chinese name is "hon bu zhan", which sounds something like "home run". The name means "better than red". Left: Note by my host Jung-Sheng Lin (Sinox Horticulture, Kaohsiung) about 'Home Run'. Back to Menu Above: 'Home Run' grafted onto a 3-foot tall 'Arabian Ruby' caudex. Above and below: A selection of the flower colors of 'Home Run', which vary greatly with temperature and age. Above: 'Red Everblomer' has sturdier branches than typical "obesum". Left: a 4-year-old cutting. Right: a much older plant on its own roots, about 6 feet tall. 'Red Everbloomer' Parentage: Adenium "obesum " Creator: Dimmitt selection, 1979. Plant form: Erect, well-branched shrub, with sturdier branches than is typical of the species. Modest caudex in original seedling; cuttings develop massive roots. Tends to be evergreen. Flower: Semi-star-shaped but with rounded petal tips, 66 mm diameter x 25 mm petal width. Outer halves of petals medium-red, fading to near white at throat. Throat white with no or a few faint nectar guides. Blooms year-round in tropical conditions. Notes : Selected from a batch of second generation seedlings from four plants purchased from Grigsby Cactus Gardens in the mid 1970s. This was an excellent red at the time when nearly all A. "obesum " had pink flowers. It's useful to compare it with recent cultivars to realize how far adenium breeding has progressed in the 40 years since 1980. This plant is also important as the parent of the first good red-flowered hybrid, 'Crimson Star ' . Back to Menu Left: Compare this humble beginning with today's red-flowered "obesum" selections! 'Red Henny 4n' (aka 'FC-1') Parentage: Adenium "obesum " Creator: Richard J. “Jake” Henny, Florida USA, early 2000s Plant form: A vigorous, spreading shrub with notably thick stems and a modest caudex. Tends to be evergreen. Flower: round to nearly circular,very large, 90 mm diameter x 46 mm petal width. Petals have a wide red or deep pink margin (paler in hot weather), fading to near-white at throat. Throat yellow with no nectar guides. Blooms repeatedly year round, most heavily in spring. Notes: This is reportedly the first induced tetraploid, by treating seeds from an ordinary "obesum" with colchicine. (What would result from treating today's superior cultivars?) The original name was FC-1, because Henny verified its tetraploid status by measuring the quantity of DNA with flow cytometry. Back to Menu A 9-year-old cutting of 'Red Henny (4n)'. Tetraploid plants tend to have sturdier stems than diploids, but this clone still has rather weak stems that should be pruned every few years to maintain a more attractive form. This plant is getting pretty floppy. Left: The huge and well-shaped flower of 'Red Henny (4n)'. Flowers will be paler in weather above 100 F/38 C. Above: 'Royal Robe' grows well on its own roots, which develop a pseudocaudex in time. Plant is in a 14-inch pot. 'Royal Robe' Parentage: Adenium "obesum", ['Saenglasame' x ('Saenglasame' x 'Daeng Siam')] Creator: Dimmitt, 2001. Plant form: A large, vigorous, fairly upright shrub that develops massive roots. Nearly evergreen. Flower: Semi-star-shaped, 70 mm diameter x 30 mm petal width. Petals open deep red with narrow purple margin, aging to light red with lavender margin. Throat light yellow with no nectar guides. Blooms profusely in spring and sporadically the rest of the year. Notes: There are numerous other beautiful bicolor obesums, including double flowers. Above: New (left) and older flowers of 'Royal Robe'. Back to Menu 'Snow Lotus' Parentage: Adenium "obesum " Creator: C.F. Chang, Taiwan, before 2008. Plant form: A vigorous large, spreading shrub with lush foliage and a small caudex. Almost always grown on grafts. Flower: Round, 80 mm diameter x 35 mm petal width. Petals pure white; throat yellow (sometimes greenish) with no nectar guides. Blooms profusely in spring and sporadically the rest of the year. Notes : There are now many excellent white-flowered cultivars of A. "obesum" . Most, perhaps all, are descended from 'Grumbley White'. Back to Menu NEED PHOTO OF PLANT Above: The dazzling white flowers of 'Snow Lotus'. 'Tradewinds #20' Parentage: Adenium "obesum " ('Black Ruby' x 'Ruby 2') Creator: John Lucas, Tradewinds South Nursery, late 1990s. Plant form: A medium-sized, erect shrub with massive roots. Evergreen. Flower: Round, 84 mm diameter x 33 mm petal width. Petals deep crimson with a broad black border, fading only slightly toward throat. Throat white with very faint nectar guides. Prolific bloomer; season unrecorded. Notes: John Lucas produced a number of superb cultivars in the early days of adenium breeding. I hope this cv. is still in existence; it's a stunner. Left: the flowers of 'Tradewinds #20' look incandescent. Photo: John Lucas. Right: 'Tradewinds #20' has massive roots, especially for an "obesum". Photo: John Lucas. Back to Menu Citation Footnotes Rowley, Gordon, 1999. Pachypodium and Adenium. The Cactus File Handbook 5. David Neville, series editor. Nuffield Press, Oxford.

Publications Taxonomy article Adenium: Sculptural Elegance, Floral Extravagance Dimmitt, Joseph, & Palzkill 2009 Adenium Taxonomy and Nomenclature Dimmitt & Edwards 2021 Adenium Taxonomia y Nomenclatur a Translated by Osmar Barboza (unpublished) Adeniums (Desert Rose) in Cultivation Dimmitt 2022 Adenium Culture in Hot, Arid Climates Characteristics of Adenium Species & Hybrids