Adenium somalense occurs in Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, and a bit into adjacent nations. The most common form in cultivation grows a tall, conical, succulent trunk, but there are also shrubby forms with subterranean caudexes. Only A. "arabicum" and socotranum have larger caudexes. The most identifiable vegetative characters are the conical caudex and light-colored veins in the leaves. The flowers are rather small, 1 to 2 inches wide. The flowers typically have narrow pointed petals (star-shaped flowers) that are white or pink with dark pink or red borders. Prominent nectar guides in the throat extend onto the petals as fainter lines, not as bold as those of most A. crispum flowers. It is not common in cultivation in the USA, but is fairly popular in more tropical countries.