Rose of Jericho

The Rose of Jericho is a flower that isn't a true rose. It is quite interesting though and could be a great addition to your home or garden. Read to find out more!

This plant can also be found under many different names, including the Jericho rose, Resurrection Plant, Siempre Viva, or Dinosaur Plant. The scientific names are Anastatica hierochuntica, the African and Asian version, or Selaginella lepidophylla, the North American variety. The original name was Biblical in nature, and the sudden blooming of this desert flower was meant to represent Mary's womb opening and closing. It grows naturally in Northern Africa, southwest Asia, southwest America, and Central America.

Like the Christmas rose, this plant is great around the holidays. They are flowers designed for an arid, desert climate, and are often found in a brown curled up state. In fact, they are often sold this way so that is normal!

Once they are watered, they will turn a vibrant green and have almost moss like blooms, hence the alternate name Spike Moss. When the water source is eliminated, they will go back to their brown ball state. The plants are built for this continuous cycle and many specimens can live for years like this. Many families keep a dormant plant throughout the year and then water it near the holidays, so it becomes a holiday tradition. Many people keep this on their Christmas table. Since it does not need to be planted, it is easy to care for. Just get a bowl of water and put the brown plant into it. Within a few hours, you will have a blooming planty! It can be kept blooming but for best health it should be dried out a couple times a year.

In nature, this plant rolls around the desert in its balled up state until it finds a water source. Then it pulls in the water and blooms accordingly. The Rose of Jericho has adapted extremely well to tough environments, and is great for desert living or around the holidays!