Adenium obesum swazicum
The beautiful Swazi Lily is a small succulent shrub, growing only up to around 70cm high, that occurs in a small corner of South Africa’s Lowveld, northern Kwazulu-Natal, Mozambique and eSwatini (Swaziland). Sadly the Swazi Lily is critically endangered in South Africa, with over half of its habitat converted to sugarcane fields and the plants themselves subject to illegal harvesting for traditional medicine and collection by horticulturists. Up to 20% of the total population of these plants occur in the Kruger National Park, its last remaining stronghold in this country. The Lowveld National Botanical Gardens runs programs aimed at propagating the Swazi Lily and educating the public about its conservation.
Swazi Lilies loose all their leaves in winter, with both the leaves and flowers emerging at the same time at the onset of summer. The plants grow in well-drained sodic sandy and clay soils, is exceptionally drought resistant and slow-growing. The flowers are pollinated by hawk moths and the seeds dispersed by the wind. The sap of the Swazi Lily is extremely toxic and was used to make poisoned arrows for hunting. In traditional medicine applications it has to be highly diluted to treat heart ailments and skin conditions.
The Swazi Lily is a close relative of the Impala Lily, which flowers in winter.
DeWetsWild 
As succulents, will they propagate from cuttings?
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Yes, AJ, they will and it takes about a month before the cuttings sprout roots.
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So sad to see so many of our indigenous flora threatened by the ravages of agriculture and industry. It really is a very pretty flowering shrub. Thanks for sharing!
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So few things in the natural world are able to withstand the wave of human greed…
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Sadly true – and humankind just refuses to learn this lesson.
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So ‘n pragtige blommetjie Dries!
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Absoluut, Aletta. Laat my verlang na die Laeveld.
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Ek kan dit dink
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Sure is a pretty flower to lose to extinction. Hopefully they are at least protected in the park.
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That they are, John, but never good to have all your eggs in one basket.
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You have given me a clue to a mystery I have been trying to solve for a couple of years – identifying a plant which I potted after picking up a piece lying broken on a path whilst hiking in a nearby reserve … from the information you give it cannot possibly be a Swazi Lily, but I shall have to wait until it flowers again to see if it may be a relation. Most intriguing.
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Just imagine what it would mean for the species if you’ve discovered a hitherto unknown population in the Eastern Cape, Anne!
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Nice shots of a beautiful little flower, Dries, along with your interesting info. I’ve learned something new today, thanks to you. 🙂
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So very kind of you, thank you Jane!
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so pretty
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Most certainly, thanks Gavin
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Pretty little flower. It reminds me of Impatiens we have here–a real shade lover of a plant.
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You’re right about these flowers looking like the Impatiens, Lois, which is also a popular garden plant here.
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