“Rose of Jericho” or “Resurrection Plant”
You could not call it a beautiful plant in the everyday sense however Selaginella lepidophylla is amazing.
This is a plant from Mexico, Texas and other nearby areas and it is a lycopod, which are better known as club moss and spike moss..
My first encounter was with one brought to Australia by an American soldier named Gene at the end of WWII.
I remember well as as a child when I ‘discovered’ one that had been hidden away in a cupboard for a number of years. It looked like a dried up ball of an old plant with some dried up roots.
Natural curiosity led me to water this dried up relic, and to my amazement it opened and turned green. I was hooked at the age of 10.
Selaginella lepidophylla Description.
Selaginella lepidophylla forms a small rounded ball of foliage that can survive with do water and can in fact dehydrate completely to come back to life with moisture.
It will form a root system is allowed to settle with the roots being able to to find their way into cracks between rocks.
It can appear to have no root system and can survive without being rooted to the one place. It will move around in the wind in long dry periods as the roots detect themselves from the plant.
Selaginella lepidophylla is commonly called the “Rose of Jericho”, “Resurrection Plant”, “Dinosaur Plant”, “Siempre Viva” and a few other names. We called it the “Desert Rose”.
It grows in the desert and for much of its life spends its time curled up in a ball of seemingly dead foliage.
As soon as it rains, the foliage opens up and turns green. And it does look a little rose shaped. so all of those common names make sense.
Selaginella lepidophylla Care
This is a plant that require extremely good drainage.
Its natural environment if on rocky outcrops in poor soil.
- Where and When to Plant
You do not need to plant Selaginella lepidophylla as such, it is happy sitting on small stones or gravel in bowl or half coconut shell.
You could, in the right conditions try to let it set down roots into very dry sandy gravel. - Sun/Light
Best in filtered light to full sun to part shade when in a hydrated state. When dehydrated they are best in part shade. - Soil
Best sitting on top of gravel or stones - Temperature
Will survive in temperatures up to 100F (37C)
Cool winters so try for 65~80℉(18~27℃)
Optimal range is between 18 and 30 degrees - Position : Sheltered and indoors away from heating and cooling ducts
- Planting Season : Year Round
- How To Plant : Sit in a bowl with a layer of stones beneath.
- Soil Preparation ; No soil is required
- Planting instructions
- Watering : Water the gravel below the plant when you wish to hydrate,
- Staking/Support N/A
- Mulching No
- Fertilising A 1/10 strength application of liquid fertiliser are 3 – 4 years
Use a specialist cactus and succulent potting mix and generally use a fairly shallow container.
Although the plant does not form a large root ball it does form sorts of roots, just enough to attach itself to the ground.
- Light. Good sun to filtered light.
- Climate Warm to hot, protect from frosts
- Watering This is a desert plant that only opens when it rains.
Constant moisture will cause fungal problems. 80% of the time it should be dry, with brief periods of watering for a day or two.
From summer to autumn the plant should receive no water at all.
It will curl up into a brown ball, however this is its natural habit.
Long periods of watering over winter are also not recommended.
Useful Information For Selaginella lepidophylla
- Botanical Name : Selaginella lepidophylla
- Common Names :Resurrection plant, Rose of Jericho
- Origin : Mexico to USA in the Chihuahuan Desert
- Family : Selaginellaceae
- Genus : Selaginella
- Cultivar Name: N/A
- Plant Type : Small fern like or spike moss
- Exposure/ Light :
- Soil Type : Sandy
- Soil Moisture : Well-drained, to Dry
- pH Level : Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
- Climate Zone : Arid
- Drainage : Very good drainage
- Water requirements : Low
- Height: To 5cm
- Width : To 5 cm
- Growth Habit : Forms a small ball of foliage that opens with rain.
- Lifespan : Perennial
- Landscaping Uses : N/A
- Garden Styles ; N/A
- Special Uses : Ornamental novelty
- Plant Environment : Low maintenance garden, Courtyard, Poolside, Container growing, Coastal garden, Drought resistant
- Flowering Time : N/A
- Flower colours : Does not flower but reproduces through spores.
- Other Seasonal Interest : Interesting on display when dormant.
- Climate Zone : arid
- Special Uses : Used as a herbal tea
- Frost Tolerance : Tolerates light frost, avoid hard frosts.
- Drought Tolerance : Yes
- Attracts Wildlife : No
What’s in a name
The Botanical name Selaginella, comes from the Greek words “selago” (club moss) and “anella” (little)
The specific epithet (Species name or binomial name) “lepidophylla” means “scaly leaves”.