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Common names include Sabi Star, Kudu, Mock Azalea, Impala Lily and Desert-rose. It is an evergreen or drought-deciduous succulent shrub. It can grow to 1–3 m (3.3–9.8 ft) height, with pachycaul stems and a stout, swollen basal caudex. The leaves are spirally arranged, clustered toward the tips of the shoots, simple entire, leathery in texture. The flowers are tubular, with five petals, resembling those of other related genera such as Plumeria and Nerium. The flowers tend to red and pink, often with a whitish blush outward of the throat.The toxic sap of its roots and stems is used as arrow poison for hunting large game throughout much of Africa.
It requires a sunny location and a minimum indoor temperature in winter of 10 °C (50 °F). It thrives on a xeric watering regime as required by cacti. It is a popular houseplant and bonsai in temperate regions.
Native to the Sahel regions, south of the Sahara ( Mauritania, Senegal, Sudan), and tropical and subtropical eastern and southern Africa and Arabia.
Spotted on May 23, 2011
Submitted on May 5, 2012
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