The desert rose (Adenium obesum) is a slow-growing plant, only growing about 12 inches per year. It is native to Africa, the Middle East, and Madagascar.
Desert rose looks like a bonsai; it has a thick, swollen truck (that holds water during times of drought) and shiny, dark green leaves. But the real appeal comes from its showy, trumpet-shaped flowers that appear in festive shades of pink, white, purple, and red. Look around and you can often find bicolor varieties, types with double flowers, or those with variegated foliage.
Desert rose looks beautiful when planted in the landscape as an annual (in the North) or perennial (in frost-free regions), but is also an excellent tropical plant for container gardens. No matter where you grow desert rose, it's a perfect companion for cacti and other succulents. Because it is a tropical plant, it doesn't survive frost (temperatures of 32F or 0C).
The desert rose is the only Adenium extensively hybridized to obtain different flower colors. In many tropical and warmer climates (USDA zones 11 and 12), it's a widely-used ornamental outdoor plant, and in cooler zones it is grown indoors. It's best planted in the spring, and it will die if exposed to frost and freezing temperatures. A member of the dogbane family, the sap of the desert rose plant is toxic to people and pets.
Desert rose is a sun-loving plant, so grow it in the brightest spot you have. It's equally outstanding grown in landscape beds or borders as it is in containers and planters on decks, patios, and other outdoor spaces.
Water desert rose regularly for best results. The plant tolerates low-water conditions, but if it dries out too much, it will lose some or all of its leaves. Don't worry if this happens; your desert rose will grow new leaves when it starts to get enough water again.

As long as you provide optimal conditions, desert roses can grow inside by a windowsill, in a larger DIY container garden indoors, or in pots outside. They can be rewarding houseplants if you keep them in direct sunlight and modify the indoor temperature to suit their climatic needs throughout the entire year, including winter. In the United States, desert roses can survive as outdoor garden plants in USDA Zones 10 or 11. If you live in one of the other hardiness zones, you can keep them outdoors in the springtime but must bring them inside every winter.