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Adenium Sculptural Elegance, Floral Extravagance Adenium: Sculptural Elegance, Floral Extravagance, covers the cultivation and care of Adeniums, as well as their unique and attractive characteristics.The book showcases the beauty and ornamental value of Adeniums, and provides detailed information for both hobbyists and professional growers. The book is out of print, but you can download a 45 megabyte PDF; use the button below. Meet the Authors Corrections and Clarificatons Historic Letters Download PDF of Book Meet the Authors Authors from left to right: Dave Palzkill, Gene Joseph and Mark Dimmitt Mark A. Dimmitt has a Ph.D. in biology (zoology-herpetology) from the University of California at Riverside. He is retired from a 40-year career as a botanist/ecologist, mostly at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. His second career is collecting and hybridizing plants, first Trichocereus (cacti) and Tillandsia (bromeliads). Since the late 1970s his main focus has been on breeding Adenium s. David A. Palzkill has a Ph.D. in Horticulture and Plant Pathology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison where he studied calcium-related problems of vegetable crops. Following fourteen years on the faculty of the University of Arizona, he consulted on alternative crops for dry regions and grew adeniums commercially for about 20 years. Gene E. Joseph studied Plant Sciences at the University of Arizona in Tucson. He was plant propagator at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum where he focused his interest in desert flora. He has run Plants for the Southwest, a desert plant nursery in Tucson, since 1986 Corrections & Clarifications Page 13, Figure 9: Photo was taken near Benoue National Park in northern Cameroon, not in Mauritania as stated in the book. Page 45, under Flowers header: The first sentence should read "The small flowers (Figure 105) are produced abundantly for about two months during late winter and early spring,... " Page 47, Figure 108: Pho to: Boris Vrskovy (Puk, with an accent on the y), not P. Mukundan. Page 65, Figure 44: The flower is 'Yolk Fragrance', purchased in Taiwan and photographed by Mark Dimmitt. Here is a picture of 'Arctic Snow', by David Clulow. Page 70, Figures 60 and 61: Photos are by David Clulow, not Ashish Hansoti as stated. Page 78, Figure 91: It's 'Harry Potter'; photo: Kenneth Wall. Page 96, Origin of 'Singapore': I rediscovered a lost note from Albert Chan and a letter from Frank Horwood dated 1980. Professor Holttum told Horwood that Adenium 'Singapore' was introduced to horticulture in Singapore in 1933, 50 years earlier than I had thought. (Richard Eric Holttum was Director of the Singapore Botanical Garden from 1926 to 1949, and later was on the staff of the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew.) Chan's and Horwood's letters are archived here . Page 106, third paragraph: In fact, A. swazicum and A. oleifolium do experience freezing temperatures. Adenium oleifolium remains a short shrub partly because it is periodically frozen to the ground. Page 127, Figure 38: Photo: P. Mukundan, not Nathan Wong. Page 134: The Adenium "arabicum" at the bottom of the page is by Godong Ijo Nursery, not David Clulow. Clarifications Page 32: As stated, A. "arabicum" does indeed tend to grow short and squat at low, dry elevations and high, cold ones, and is often arborescent in wetter habitats. However, growth form is not only environmentally controlled; there is also a strong genetic influence. In cultivation some seedlings become shrubs with squat caudexes, while others grown in the same conditions become trees with tall, conical trunks. Page 47: The range of the unnamed Omani Adenium (A. dhofarense as of 2015) extends into eastern Yemen, near Hvai (Boris Vrskovy pers. comm.). The plants in Figures 108 and 109 are in fact from this location in Yemen, not in Oman as the caption states. The photos are also by Boris. Page 54: An adenium registry should go online soon. Stay tuned. (It never happened as of 2023) Species and Hybrid chapters . Flower shapes. Click here for an image gallery of flower shapes . Hybrid Chapter, page 70: After some discussion with Thai growers, it is apparent that most of their "arabicum" cultivars are in fact not cultivars. That is, their named plants such as 'Golden Crown', 'Petch Ban Na', Ra Chi Nee Pan Dok', etc. will not breed true either from seed or asexual means. This is because the names refer to particular growth forms achieved by careful pruning and training of the plants from a very small size. It is still unclear whether there is a formal nomenclatural term for this kind of plant. But they should not be called cultivars, and their names should not be enclosed in single quotes. Page 129, Table 2: When considering whether to water an adenium, it is important to know whether the plant is active or dormant. Click here for a gallery illustrating the terms dormant, active, and growing . Historic Letters

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'.