Name
Impala Lily, Desert Rose or Sabi StarLatin name
Adenium multiflorum – found in Southern Africa and considered the true impala lily. Adenium obesum – found in East and North Africa where the species is known as the desert rose.Impala Lily Description
The flowers of the impala lily are about 5 cm in diameter. This plant blooms in July, but where cultivated they can flower as late as mid-September.Impala Lily Habitat
The impala lily (Adenium multiflorum) is widespread in South Africa. It can be found in eastern Mpumalanga, Limpopo and northern KwaZulu-Natal. It also occurs in Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and stretches to the more tropical areas of Malawi and Zambia.Field Notes
This plant is rarely eaten by animals as they contain certain harmful toxins. It is harmful to domestic stock. The impala lily’s toxins, together with the toxins of various other plants, have been used by the San people as poison on their arrowheads.
This plant and its showy flowers have been likened to a miniature baobab.
South Africa has a fabulous array of indigenous flowers that enhances the country’s natural beauty and diversity. One of South Africa’s ...