Baobab Desert Rose

Adenium arabicum 'Baobab'

Regular price £25.99
/
Regular price £25.99
/

Baobab Desert Rose

Adenium arabicum 'Baobab'

Regular price £25.99
/
Regular price £25.99
/
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New to this plant? See how to care for it

Adenium arabicum 'Baobab'

Adenium arabicum 'Baobab'

12cm

£25.99

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Adenium arabicum 'Baobab' is one of the most architecturally compelling plants you can grow indoors. At its base sits a broad, swollen caudex: a water-storing trunk that widens and flattens with age into a shape strongly reminiscent of a miniature baobab tree, hence the name. From this base grow glossy, oval leaves and, in season, clusters of vivid trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of pink and red. It is a plant that rewards time: the older it gets, the more sculptural and distinctive the caudex becomes.

Origins
Adenium arabicum is native to the arid highland regions of Yemen and Saudi Arabia, where it grows in rocky, granite-based soils alongside species of Euphorbia in conditions of extreme heat, intense sunlight, and very low rainfall.

Soil and Substrate
Adenium arabicum is highly susceptible to root rot in any substrate that retains moisture. A gritty, fast-draining mix is essential. Our Desert Mix is a peat-free cacti and succulent potting mix formulated for exactly this: maximum drainage with just enough structure to support healthy root growth. It replicates the dry, mineral-rich soils Adenium grows in naturally and is the recommended substrate for all our desert-adapted plants.

Diameter 12cm
Approx Height 25-50cm
Loves Sunny Spots
  • We can't guarantee flowers at the time of delivery. Flowering depends on the plant's current growth stage and the conditions it has been kept in. Once settled in a bright spot with the right care, it should flower in season.

  • Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

    It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

    If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
  • Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

    If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

    That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
  • There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

    Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

    When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

    We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
  • First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

    Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

    It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

    Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

    Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
  • Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

    During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

    That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

    The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit. Whether grown in our own nursery or sourced from trusted partner growers, every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something isn't right on arrival, we'll make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

Find out more →

How to care for Adenium arabicum 'Baobab'

Adenium arabicum 'Baobab' is a houseplant that takes a little effort. It needs bright direct light, watering only once the compost has dried right through, average household humidity and a minimum temperature of 13°C. It is harmful to pets and small children if eaten.

Good for Hallway

Care level

A Little Effort

One thing to get right. Stay on top of that and the rest is straightforward.

Light

Bright direct

Straight into a sunny window, ideally south or west facing. It wants sun on the leaves.

Your Complete Guide to Grow Lights – With Grow Gang!

Water

dry
Let the compost dry all the way through before watering again.

Let dry out fully between waterings

Let the compost dry right through, then water thoroughly and let every drop drain away.

How often should I water my houseplant?

Humidity

Average home

Happy at normal household humidity. No misting or humidifier needed.

Temperature

Keep above 13°C

Average room (10-14C)

Fine in any normally heated room. Move it off cold windowsills on frosty nights.

Pets and children

Toxic if eaten

Harmful if chewed or swallowed. Keep it out of reach of pets and small children, and wash your hands after pruning.

Sourced from ASPCA and NC State toxicity records. If a pet does eat any houseplant, ring your vet.

Type & growth habit

HabitTree-formUpright
Plant typeSucculent
Also known as
Baobab Desert Rose
Genus
Adenium

What Our Customers Say

“Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.”

Emily P.

“Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.”

James R.

“Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.”

Sophie L.

Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

See What's In the Box!

See behind the box with these awesome unboxing videos from some of our favourite Youtubers.

Unboxing video
Unboxing video
Unboxing video
Unboxing video

Customers praised this exotic miniature tree as "amazing" and "beautiful," with many noting it resembles African baobabs. Plants typically arrive healthy and well-packaged, though one customer experienced yellow leaves initially. Shoppers appreciate the quick delivery and unique appearance, with new leaves sprouting after arrival. One customer requested care instructions.

  • Looks like a mini version of the massive trees in the wilds of Africa. I love it to bits!
  • Plant was delivered quickly, in very good condition and very well packaged.
  • So unique - I've had lots of compliments.
  • 5 stars: 41 (91%)
  • 4 stars: 3 (7%)
  • 3 stars: 1 (2%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
J
Janis Worsley (United Kingdom)
12cm

Well packed, arrived safely. A bit disappointed as most of the leaves are yellow and are falling off, but I am hopeful it will bounce back, I have given her a soak as she was very dry and time will tell.

Hi Janis, thank you for your feedback. It's common for Adenium plants to shed leaves periodically. With proper care, bright indirect light and slight moisture, the plant will push a new flush of leaves. Please reach out if we can help further

V
Victoria D.
Adenium arabicum 'Baobab' | Desert Rose

I've been looking for this plant for so long and was fortunate to purchase one from GrowTropicals. Plant was delivered quickly, in very good condition and very well papackaged. I definitely would recommend to others.

L
Lucifer m.
Amazing, and pint sized

This plant is AMAZING. Looks like a mini version of the massive trees in the wilds of Africa. I love it to bits! Great size and can’t wait to see it grow! So well packaged and shipped so quickly as well. Even if you only ever own one plants make it this one!

J
Jennifer M.
Baobab

Such a lovely specimen with loads of new leaves growing! Love this little one. Plus it was packaged so securely and arrived in just a few days, and in perfect condition!

H
Harvey R.
Baobab.

Arrived in great condition. I've never tried to grow one of these before so did a lot of reading and videos. I put it in a sunny window and moved it away at might time. A couple of days later a heat mat arrived and it's on a plastic tray on top of the heat matset at its lowest temp. after a few more days I gave it a small amount of water and kept an eye on it. it then started showing green on the end of its branches but still didn't want to rush things. The soil it arrived in looks like peat and not free draining so I sieved some bonsai soil and left the soil soaking in water for 24hrs. With temps increasing I decided to get it out of its old soil,it was so dry it all fell away and I put half of the new soil which I'd drained into a slightly larger bonsai pot and filled the pot up withe rest. That wad 2 or 3 days ago and the green is spreading along the branches so I'm hopeful it's OK. I'll watch what happens and eventually put it outside when it's hot and sunny enough and give it a mild feed every so often. Up to now I'm very pleased,thank you.

S
Sam S.
The plant arrived super quick

The plant arrived super quick and really well packaged, and it's already started sprouting leaves!

L
Linda W.
Love this plant its so

Love this plant its so unusual, arrived on time and very well packaged :grin:

C
Candice. S.
It arrives beautifully and well

It arrives beautifully and well packed. Waiting now for it to establish.

V
Vicky F.
I love this chubby little

I love this chubby little plant - I’m going to have to give it a name - it’s in perfect condition too

P
Prash
Incredible!

So happy with my quirky baobab. Arrived in great condition (packaged with a lot of care) and so many new shoots already popping up...can't wait to see how it grows/matures.

s
simon a.
Plant arrived in perfect condition,

Plant arrived in perfect condition, absolutely love it's weirdness. Can't wait to see how growd

S
Sarah L.
Recieved a beautifully healthy plant

Recieved a beautifully healthy plant that, now I have had it a week, has settled in and is already showing this by producing cute, little green leaves.
Very happy with my plant, the delivery, the packaging and swiftness of delivery.

M
Matthew H.
Arrived very carefully wrapped as

Arrived very carefully wrapped as a dormant plant. Now just starting to grow some very tiny leaves.

G
Gaeren W.
Great Company with Great Products

Plants are always well packaged and arrived looking healthy and well cared for.

M
Manasak

The plant arrived in a rwally nicely wrapped and protected parcels including the heating wrap and bag. The plant is really healthy and beautiful. The delivery is really fast and the customer service via email was really good. I love this shop. I bought products with them previous and i always satisfied!

I
Ivor P.
Excellent Products and Service

My purchase was in excellent condition and as described, the staff are really helpful

A
Alex

Excelent, really really impressed, lovely plant, very healthy and good size

A
Alex

Excelent, really really impressed, lovely plant, very healthy and good size

M
Ma

Beautiful wee baobab. I’m delighted with it. It’s a gift for a friend.

A
A.S.

Beautiful wee baobab. I’m delighted with it. It’s a gift for a friend.

K
Keren F.
Love it!

The Baobab really stands out in the room. Even with other plants around it everyone that comes over asks about it!

D
David A.
Upside down

Very nice

J
Jane T.
Above and beyond!

I love this plant, so intriguing and exotic. I admire it every day.

M
Melissa S.
Beautiful plant and pot

Lovely strong healthy plant and in a lovely pot. Bigger than expected too. I bought it as a present for my husband and he was very happy.

K
Keith T.
Would have liked to have

Would have liked to have had information on care of Baobab The packaging and delivery was excellent also the plant

T
Tracey F.
Beautiful plant in excellent health

Beautiful plant in excellent health and condition. Well packaged to ensure no damage during transit

J
Jenny T.
Love my plant

My plant arrived swiftly and well protected. I love it.

D
Danny S.
It arrived in excellent condition,

It arrived in excellent condition, I’m well chuffed, it looks great.