The (False) Rose of Jericho, Selaginella lepidophylla

The (False) Rose of Jericho, Selaginella lepidophylla

This article relates to Amity

In Nathan Harris's novel Amity, June, a formerly enslaved woman, is forced to relocate to the foothills of Mexico's Sierra Madre range with the man who has oppressed her since childhood. As her party nears the Rio Grande, she encounters Isaac, a young Black Seminole who lives in the area. She claims the desert through which they've been traveling is ugly, but Isaac corrects her: she just doesn't understand its beauty. He points to a plant he calls the Rose of Jericho, which appears dead but comes back to life with a little water. The plant becomes a powerful symbol of rebirth for June from that point in the narrative onward.

There are at least 130 species of resurrection plant, which can survive extreme desiccation, appearing to die only to revive with a little bit of water. Predominantly mosses, lichens, and ferns, these plants can survive a 95% water loss (most vegetation dies after a loss of 10%-30%).

The plant featured in Amity is Selaginella lepidophylla, a native of the deserts of the American Southwest and Mexico. In addition to being referred to as the Rose of Jericho—the name by which Isaac knows it—it's called the False Rose of Jericho, Jericho rose, resurrection moss, dinosaur plant, siempre viva, stone flower, and resurrection plant. (S. lepidophylla should not be confused with Anastatica hierochuntica, a member of the mustard family known as the "True" Rose of Jericho and also able to survive extreme desiccation. This plant is native to the Middle East.)

The (False) Rose of Jericho is one of the hardiest members of the spike moss family. During times of drought, it curls up into what looks like a ball of dead twigs, and it can survive in this state for many years. Within hours of receiving water, however, it uncurls and greens up, completely reviving into a flat, fern-like plant. It sends roots into whatever topsoil exists, but if detached it rolls along like a tumbleweed until its progress is impeded and it can re-establish itself (the process doesn't kill it).

The plant grows each time it becomes green and returns to its dormant state when dry conditions recur. It can repeat this cycle many times throughout its life, but its longevity depends on how quickly drought returns. Interestingly, the plant can unfold even after it's dead (think of a dried sponge expanding when wet)—it just won't get green again or produce spores.

The Rose of Jericho has long been used in traditional medicine throughout the American Southwest and Mexico. Most often it's steeped in water to create a type of tea thought to ease colds, fevers, and digestive issues. The brew may also be used for detoxification, employed in rituals involving purification, such as of homes or workspaces, or given during childbirth to ease labor.

The plant was historically used as an evangelical tool for Roman Catholic missionaries from Spain, who quickly adopted the Rose of Jericho as a symbol of rebirth to demonstrate the Christian concept of the Resurrection to those they were trying to convert.

Today, most people know S. lepidophylla as a houseplant. Because it adapts so well to being dried out, it can be easily purchased over the internet (you can get a four-pack from Amazon for $8.99 as of 2025). It's hardy and simple to grow; the Houseplant Resource Center says to fill a dish with pebbles and add just enough water to submerge them. Set the Rose of Jericho on top, place the dish in bright, indirect light, and you're done. The only caveat is to remember to rest it every now and then by allowing it to dry out (they recommend for one week each month). It grows best at room temperature; although it's a desert plant, it can still be damaged or killed by excessively hot or cold conditions.

Click on the video below to view time-lapse footage of a Rose of Jericho "resurrecting":

Selaginella lepidophylla, in photos taken over approximately three hours
By Umberto Salvagnin, CC BY 2.0

Filed under Nature and the Environment

This article relates to Amity. It first ran in the September 10, 2025 issue of BookBrowse Recommends.