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  Adenium swazicum
(Syn: Adenium obesum ssp. swazicum)
CACTUS ART
NURSERY

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A. swazicum (during winter rest)

This is supposed to be the hardiest Adenium.  it is also a very nice free blooming species with intense pink flowers borne in masses that  tends to have a longer flowering season than most of the Adeniums.
well-developed plants have huge roots and thick trunks.


Description:
It is a dwarf shrub, up to 30 cm high, with an enlarged succulent stem with few branches, sometimes partly below ground that tend to droop or spread, especially in plants that are too shaded; mature plants have massive roots and thick stems, but a caudex is evident only in young ones.
Leaves: Long, narrow and succulent up to 13 cm long x 3 cm wide, tapering to both ends or widest near the tips, often folded lengthwise and usually slightly crisped (wavy), softly pubescent below, losing hairs later without conspicuous veins ;  lighter green than in most adeniums.
Flower: Uniformly coloured pink to deep reddish purple, average 6-7 cm in diameter,  in terminal Inflorescence, appearing with leaves. Blooming over a long season normally  in late summer and autumn (Some clones, however, are in almost continuous bloom, experiencing only a few weeks of rest in late winter)

Hybrids: Adenium swazicum was used in intergeneric hybrids with A. obesum and some of the most floriferous hybrids belong to this group.



Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of
plants belonging to theAdenium obesum complex
:

Photo gallery: Alphabetical listing of Cactus and Succulent pictures published in this site.

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Family: Apocynaceae
Scientific name:  Adenium swazicum

Origin:  Occurs on the east coast of southern Africa, in Swaziland and adjacent parts of South Africa and Mozambique.

Synonyms:

  • A. obesum ssp. swazicum (Stapf) G. D. Rowlwy
    In: Repert. Pl. Succ. 29:3, 1980
  • A. boehmianum var. swazicum (Stapf) Rowl.A

 

 

 

Cultivation: A.swazicum is easy to grow but is especially susceptible to spider mite infestation. It is nearly evergreen if grown in a warm greenhouse or tropical conditions a and watered, but can loose its leaves and forced into a long winter dormancy in cooler climate. New growth begins early in spring.
It like pots with generous drain holes on sides and bottom, need a very porous potting medium media (add pumice, vulcanite, and perlite) seeing that the main trunk is planted with the majority of the roots below the caudex line. Its rare that adeniums will use the upper third of their soil and often this area serves like a mulch or support for the stem.
To make plants develop a large swollen base/trunk and to increase flowering, they require a fertilizer rich in potassium and phosphorus without a too high nitrogen content.
Bright filtered light is best but in areas where light is not as burning, plants may be kept outdoors in full sun unprotected but remember that caudex is very susceptible to sun scalding.
Water plants preferably in the early mornings until the soil is well wetted and let excess water drains from the pot base. Watering can be done as they become drier even daily or to every few days during active growth season Never allow plants to dry out too often as this causes them to go into early dormancy. Many plants simply never get enough water to grow and flower adequately so keep them active and growing by providing them with all the essential necessities.

Propagation:
Seed, grafting or cuttings that develop the same characteristics in a few years.

Home | E-mail | Plant files | Mail Sale Catalogue | Links | Information | Search

All the information and photos in cactus art files are now available also in the new the Encyclopaedia of Succulents. We hope you find this new site informative and useful.