The Adenium arabicum is found along the southern and western margins of the Arabian Peninsula, mainly encompassing Yemen and Saudi Arabia. It thrives among granitic rocks and cliffs, evolving into caudiciform shrubs in the harshest environments, primarily in colder areas with higher altitudes. In more humid locales, it can grow as small succulent trees, reaching heights of up to 13 feet in the Saudi variety. 
Its branches range from upright to open, varying in length according to the subspecies. Its leaves display significant variability, ranging from quite small to much larger than those of A. obesum. The leaves are leathery, ovate, with rounded tips, and can be either pubescent or glabrous. However, it’s the disproportionately wide and stout caudex that captures attention. Adapted to store water and reserve substances, it features a thin, gray to brown or reddish bark.
In its native habitat, A. arabicum experiences mandatory dormancy. However, it has been cultivated in various tropical regions where drought or winter cold is absent. Consequently, the plant often maintains nearly evergreen behavior, shedding only a portion of its leaves for a short period in the year within these warm and humid locations. Conversely, it’s one of the desert rose species most tolerant of cold, able to thrive in subtropical regions, rarely succumbing to caudex rot if kept with minimal watering during winter. While resilient against caudex rot, it’s quite susceptible to mite infestations, particularly in plants with pubescent leaves.
With easy cultivation, A. arabicum grows rapidly, reaching 1.2 meters (4 feet) in height and a 30 cm (12 inches) diameter caudex in just 5 years. Vigorous plants can develop a caudex as wide as 90 cm (35 inches) in 10 years. This species experiences mandatory winter dormancy, halting growth and shedding all or most of its leaves in response to cold or drought stimuli. Abundant flowering commences in spring as dormancy concludes. The Saudi variety’s flowers are approximately 5 cm (2 inches) in diameter, while plants from the southern Yemen tend to have slightly larger, pubescent centers. Petals in both varieties range from pale to vivid pink, gradually fading towards a center that can be white or yellow. Some plants may flower nearly year-round. Profuse watering during peak flowering seems to trigger leaf drop and shortens the blooming period.
A. arabicum contributes to many commercial hybrids, providing robust, vigorous plants with substantial caudices. However, its floral characteristics are often not desired, as preference leans toward larger, double flowers with varied colors, like those in A. obesum.
Cultivate in full sunlight using well-draining, aerated soil suitable for desert roses. Utilize shallow pots with ample drainage holes. Fertilize during the growth and flowering phases. Water plants in the morning to allow for drying before the cool night. Avoid inducing prolonged drought, as this can trigger undesired dormancy outside of its usual period. In winter, drastically reduce watering to prevent caudex rot. Tolerant of temperatures down to -5°C (23°F), yet if feasible, keep the plant’s substrate dry and safeguard it from frost during winter.
Plants originating from cultivation under filtered light (nursery) are susceptible to caudex burns if exposed to scorching sun without proper acclimatization. The same can occur when the cultivation is in equatorial regions, where solar exposure is very high, regardless of the plant’s origin. In this case, protect the caudex or keep the cultivation sheltered from direct sunlight. Do not grow in shade or environments with less than 4 hours of sunlight, as the plant becomes weak, etiolated, and does not bloom. Pruning is not part of the management for Adenium arabicum, as it naturally exhibits good branching and the natural design of its branches is attractive. The exception to this rule includes removing branches that may arise near the base of the plant. Similarly, it is not advisable to raise the caudex of the plant, as it mostly remains above the soil line, with only the roots below. Propagation is mainly through seeds germinated in mid-spring or cuttings. Caution is advised, as with other desert rose species, A. arabicum rarely produces fruits and seeds naturally outside its habitat, requiring manual pollination.
