To answer this question, we must first speak to our core needs as plants. I am Adenium obesum, commonly known as the Desert Rose. My very name declares my nature: I am a succulent that thrives in conditions reminiscent of a desert. My primary requirements are abundant sunlight, high heat, and exceptionally well-draining soil. I store water in my thick, caudex base to survive periods of drought. My greatest enemy is cold weather and wet, waterlogged soil, which will quickly lead to root rot and my demise. Therefore, your state's ability to provide a long, warm growing season and protect me from freezing temperatures is the absolute key to my survival outdoors.
The most precise way to determine my outdoor viability is to identify your state's USDA Plant Hardiness Zone. This map divides North America into zones based on the average annual minimum winter temperature. I can only survive year-round outdoors in zones 10a (30°F to 25°F) and 11 (above 40°F). In these zones, freezing temperatures are rare or non-existent, allowing me to remain in the ground without damage. If you live in a state like Florida, Southern California, Arizona, or Southern Texas, you likely reside in one of these zones, and I can thrive outdoors as a perennial. If your state is in zone 9 or below, the winter cold will be fatal if I am left outside.
For gardeners in states with colder winters (zones 4-9), all hope is not lost. You can still enjoy my spectacular blooms outdoors for much of the year by treating me as a container plant. From late spring, after the last frost has definitively passed, until early autumn, I will happily live on your patio, deck, or balcony. I will relish the full sun and fresh air, directing my energy into vigorous growth and flowering. However, you must be vigilant. Once nighttime temperatures begin to consistently drop below 40°F (4°C), you must bring me indoors to a sunny location for the winter. This "summer outdoors, winter indoors" cycle mimics my natural environment and allows me to enter a necessary dormant period without being killed by the cold.
Regardless of your state's zone, if you plan to grow me outdoors—even seasonally—you must provide two non-negotiable conditions. First, the soil must be extremely well-draining. A commercial cactus or succulent mix is ideal, or you can amend potting soil with plenty of perlite, pumice, or coarse sand. This prevents my roots from sitting in moisture. Second, I require a minimum of six to eight hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight daily. Without this intense light, I will become leggy, weak, and unlikely to produce my signature trumpet-shaped flowers. Please place me in the sunniest spot you have available.
