You know J I can help you with that. The seeds from the dessert rose has to be exposed to both light and dark to germinate. A commerical seed starting mix would work or like I do use organic rubble (last years dried mix. Lay it on the surface and hit it with a blast from a spray bottle to blow some cover over it. Then spray when it looks dry. Some one else had a very nice picture of one I wish I had grown.

It depends on time of year the seed is started, location, and how it's cared for. If all you are wanting is height, maybe 4 months in your zone with good conditions. randy

Keep in mind when you buy seeds, Adenium don't come true to parents. They are just like us, we rarely look just like our parents when mature. So for instance if you are buying from sellers that claim the seed is "Grandpa Bob", it's just offspring of Grandpa Bob. Depending on how many seed you buy, the percentage can be extremely small that you will get an offspring that looks just like Grandpa Bob. If you buy 100 seed, maybe 3 or so might look just like Grandpa Bob. A decent percentage will have some characteristics Of G.B. Many will look nothing like Grandpa Bob. Most are only good for rootstock to graft Grandpa Bob on after you acquire scion wood of Grandpa Bob. I love growing from seed because of this. No telling what might pop up in the gene pool. Bottom line, if you have your heart set on Grandpa Bob, you need to buy a grafted clone of Grandpa Bob. It's not going to happen with seed.

Hi Susie - Thanks! I think it is not very common to get a red desert rose from seed. Most seedlings produce pink flowers. The parent plant was had red flowers and was grown from a cutting, so its caudex is not as impressive as those that are grafted or grown from seed. I am so excited to have a red one grown from seed!