The desert roses, or Adeniums, are popular for their exclusive appearance, amazing blooms, and beautiful flowers. These grow in arid areas and are available in different varieties with different characteristics. Arabicum and Obesum are the top two varieties with distinct features while coming from the same Adenium family.
If you’re facing a dilemma of selecting between the Adenium Arabicum or Adenium Obesum, read on to understand which is the right plant for you. This write-up focuses on the features and care of these varieties, followed by their top differentiating factors for easy decision-making.
Adeniums- An Overview
Adeniums are unique flowering plants with beautiful blooms and colorful choices. These are well-suited to hot and dry conditions and are native to the Arabian Peninsula and African deserts. Adeniums have rightfully adjusted themselves to extreme drought and heat, and hence you don’t have to worry about its adaptability in your climate.
You do not need to water your Adeniums over and over again, thanks to their desert origins. Likewise, you shouldn’t overwater Adeniums, as these are highly susceptible to root rot. With their growth as small trees or shrubs, you can place your Adenium indoors or outdoors according to your choice.
The appearance of Adenium Arabicum and Obesum makes them an ideal choice for your garden. The caudiciform and swollen trunks, funnel-shaped and large flowers, and several color options make them an essential part of your gardening journey.
With several varieties of Adeniums available in the market, Arabicum and Obesum are two of the most popular and in-demand varieties. Let us now dive deep into the characteristics of these Adenium species one by one.
Characteristics of Adenium Arabicum
Originating from the Arabian Peninsula, Arabicum has its unique set of characteristics and care requirements.
- It has a swollen trunk forming a caudex and hence obtains a bonsai-like shape when grown properly. Its bark has a rough texture and resembles a tree.
- Adenium Arabicum has large flowers with a subtle fragrance. These flowers are slightly round and appear fuller.
- These can withstand hot and dry climates with no sensitivity to low temperatures (below 21 degrees Celcius).
Characteristics of Adenium Obesum
Obesum comes primarily from the deserts of Africa and is one of the popular varieties of Adeniums. Here are its key features and care guidelines.
- It has a slender trunk compared to other varieties and swells at the base to create a caudex. Its trunk is thinner than other Adeniums.
- Adenium Obesum has small flowers fewith a strong fragrance. These flowers have a sweet scent that attracts pollinators.
- These can withstand hot and arid climates but are highly sensitive to low temperatures (below 21 degrees Celcius).
Adenium Arabicum or Adenium Obesum- Which One Is Right For You?
After understanding the key features and care of both Arabicum and Obesum varieties, here is a quick differentiation between the two based on different pointers. It is essential to understand here that coming from the same family, there is only a little difference between these two on the following factors:
- Growth
All Adenium varieties grow as shrubs or small trees, and hence, these are ideal for your indoor or outdoor gardens. When cared for properly, these can be the right partners for your garden.
Arabicum variety’s growth is slow compared to the Obesum species of Adeniums. If you’re an impatient gardener, Obesum is the right choice for you. Likewise, you can go ahead with the Arabicum variety.
- Climate
Adeniums are called desert roses as they are native to arid and hot climates. However, the temperature-varying capacity of different species is different.
Adenium Arabicum can withstand cooler temperatures, and hence, you may keep it indoors without worrying about its growth. Obesum, on the other hand, is adaptable to hot areas and hence has reduced frost-withstanding capacities than Arabicum.
- Flower
Adeniums have attractive and funnel-shaped flowers. Arabicum brings the benefits of subtler and large flowers compared to other varieties.
Adenium Obesum is characterized by colorful flowers with significant fragrance. So, if you’re a fragrance lover gardener, go ahead with the Obesum version.
- Size
Adeniums’ plant size depends on the varieties. Arabicums have a tree-like appearance with thick and swollen trunks.
Obesums, on the other hand, have small and compact plants. So, if you’re looking to grow Adenium indoors, go for the Obesum, and if you’re looking for something for your outdoor garden, go for the Arabicums.
- Leaves
Adeniums have prominent leaves, making them an attractive plant. For Arabicums, the leaves are large, dark green, and pointed. Hence, these leaves give Adenium a bushier look.
For Obesums, leaves are small, narrower, and more pointed than the Arabicums. These give the plant a more airy and open appearance.
- Stem
Adeniums have swollen trunks. The Arabicum variety has a thick trunk with a slightly grayish hue bark. It starts resembling a small tree during growth.
Obesums have less swollen and slender stems compared to Arabicums. These have smoother and tan colored bark.
Adenium Arabicum vs Adenium Obesum- Quick Differentiation
Here is a quick differentiating table between Arabicum and Obesum, based on key characteristics:
| Sr. No. | Characteristics | Adenium Arabicum | Adenium Obesum |
| 1 | Growth | Regular | Relatively quick |
| 2 | Climate | Relatively hot and arid | Hot and arid but relatively sensitive to cool temperatures |
| 3 | Flower | Large | Relatively small but fragrant |
| 4 | Size | Tree-like appearance | Small and compact |
| 5 | Leaves | Large, dark green, and pointed | Small, lighter green, and narrowly pointed |
| 6 | Stem | Swollen and big | Swollen but relatively slender |
Bonus Tips- Caring For Your Adenium Arabicum and Adenium Obesum
Once you make the right choice out of the Arabicum or Obesum, here are some bonus tips for their best growth and maintenance:
- Water your Adenium carefully
Adeniums require minimum watering, and hence, you must wait until the soil dries to prevent root rot. If you’re in a region prone to cool temperatures, reduce the watering further as roots absorb more moisture at cool temperatures.
- Get the best soil mix
Go ahead for the Adenium Soil Mix, which is essentially the right soil mix for your Arabicum. It is properly drained and rich in all the essential nutrients for the best growth of your Arabicum plant.
- Ensure proper sunlight
Adenium requires complete sunlight for the best growth. So, if you’re growing it outdoors, ensure that it is in proper sunlight for at least six hours daily. For indoor Arabicums, place them near a window or an area receiving sufficient sunlight.
- Fertilize your Arabicum regularly
Fertilize your Arabicum with high-quality fertilizers for best growth in the blooming season. The best fertilizer for your Arabicum is NPK (19:19:19), Potas, DAP For organic choice go with Bonemeal which gives it the right nutrition and ensures proper plant growth.
- Do not forget to prune
Pruning your Adeniums helps in maintaining their proper size and shape. All you need to do is prune the plant and remove the dead growth to promote fuller and bushier growth. Pruning becomes more essential if you’re growing your Arabicum or Obesum indoors.
Final Thoughts
Adeniums are the best plants for adding beauty to indoor or outdoor gardens. You can select from the Adenium Arabicum or Adenium Obesum based on their key differentiating factors like growth rate, climate, flower, or size.
Upjau.in , the best online plant nursery in India brings high-quality Adeniums, delivered to your doorstep and available at affordable pricing. It is easy to make your mind up about the Arabicum or Obesum and bring the touch of nature and joy of Adenium to your place.