Desert rose is a genus of succulent, unarmed, woody perennials in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae). They are native to the dry areas in sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. They are cultivated for their thick trunks and brightly colored flowers. As a succulent from the dry tropics, desert rose is winter hardy in zones 10–11. In other areas, it must be protected from winter rains and cold. Once temperatures drop to 55°F at night, bring plants inside to a well-lit place and reduce watering. The plants may drop their leaves and go dormant. If that happens, reduce watering or stop it altogether until the leaves begin to regrow. Provide a sandy or gravelly potting mix to provide sharp drainage; wet soil can lead to root rots. Because these plants store water in their succulent stems, they can withstand drought. A drought-stress may drop its leaves, but the leaves regrow when water is again available. Desert rose is propagated from seeds or cuttings. The most desirable cultivars are grafted. Plants can reach 15' in their native habitat but seldom grow that tall in a garden or as a houseplant. They have swollen caudices, branches with clusters of shiny, green leaves at their tips, and 2-inch wide, tubular flowers in white, pink, red and variegated forms. The flowers are reminiscent of those on the Mandevilla vine, which is a distant cousin. The caudex acts as a water storage organ and helps the succulents survive long periods of drought. Some of these caudices can be 20 to 30 inches wide. As these caudices can develop fantastic shapes, the plants are popular as specimen and bonsai plants. These are ideal plants for drought-tolerant gardens, as well as very sunny, hot spots on patios. They are attractive houseplants or greenhouse subjects. The leaves and stems contain a latex that can cause rashes. Keep the latex out of your eyes. Do not ingest the leaves, flowers or stems. VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti," a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry | Very Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Irregular; Multi-stemmed; Multi-trunked
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen; Deciduous
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Whorled
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Oblanceolate; Spatulate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Fleshy; Leathery
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves are carried in clusters, at the end of the branches. In some species, they are 6” long. They are generally grey-green to bright green in color, leathery in texture and ovate or a variation on that form. The venation is pinnate and reticulate.
Flower color
Pink; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
They have tubular flowers with five petals and up to 2 inches wide. The stamens are usually held deep within the flower. The color ranges from white to deep red with pinks and lighter reds in between. Some forms have light-colored throats. There are many variegated flowers as well.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver
Fruit type
Follicle
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruit consists of two, oblong, woody, hairy, follicles which are tapered at both ends and attached at the base. They are brown to grey-brown in color. They are full of small oblong seeds with tufts of dirty white to light brown hairs at both ends.
Bark color
Light Gray
Stem color
Gray/Silver; Green
Stem detail
The leafless grey-green to gray stems or branches arise from the caudex. They can be straight or twisted. They are fleshy to help with water preservation.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Arabian Peninsula, Tropical and Southern Africa
Distribution
cultivated worldwide, especially in SE Asia and Florida.
Wildlife value
The plants attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Follicle
Uses (ethnobotany)
Some species can provide a salve used for snake bites and scorpion stings. A tea from the roots can be used to treat fever. In larger doses it is a purgative and can prove toxic.