The Rose of Jericho, often called the Resurrection Plant, is a botanical marvel known for its extreme ability to withstand complete desiccation. This unique organism survives conditions that would instantly kill almost any other plant, entering a prolonged state of suspended animation. The primary question is how long it can maintain this seemingly lifeless, dormant state without water before its cells finally give out. Its remarkable tolerance for drought makes it a powerful symbol of resilience.
Defining the Plant and Its Dry State
The plant most commonly sold as the Rose of Jericho is Selaginella lepidophylla, a species of spikemoss native to the Chihuahuan Desert of the United States and Mexico. It is frequently confused with the “true” Rose of Jericho, Anastatica hierochuntica, a different desiccation-tolerant annual from the Middle East. Unlike the true Rose, S. lepidophylla is a true resurrection plant that can revive its vegetative tissues.
When water becomes scarce, S. lepidophylla employs a physical survival strategy by curling its branches inward. This action forms a tight, protective, brown ball that minimizes surface area and drastically reduces moisture loss. In this dormant condition, the plant can lose up to 95% of its internal water content, appearing completely dried out and brittle. This compact, rolled-up posture is a metabolically inactive state of deep survival.
The Biological Mechanism of Survival
The plant’s extraordinary desiccation tolerance is powered by a cellular process called anhydrobiosis, which translates to “life without water.” As the plant dries, it rapidly produces high concentrations of specialized compounds that protect its cellular machinery. These compounds act as internal stabilizers, preventing structural collapse.
The disaccharide sugar trehalose is one such compound, accumulating to replace water molecules surrounding cellular membranes and proteins. This sugary matrix vitrifies, or turns into a glassy substance, which stabilizes the cell’s internal structures. Research indicates a high abundance of polyols, such as sorbitol and xylitol, which work alongside proteins to maintain the integrity of the cell walls and DNA.
The plant also synthesizes specialized Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) proteins, which protect other proteins from denaturation and aggregation during the stress of drying. This biochemical toolkit allows the plant to safely halt all metabolic activity. By preventing physical and chemical damage at the molecular level, the plant remains biologically viable, ready to resume life when moisture returns.
Documented Duration of Desiccation
The maximum time a Rose of Jericho can survive without water is generally measured in years, with estimates ranging from a few years to potentially decades in optimal conditions. In its dry, dormant state, the plant’s metabolic processes are slowed to an almost undetectable level. Its survival relies on maintaining the integrity of its desiccated cells.
The primary factors that eventually limit this lifespan are repeated cycles of rehydration and desiccation, which cause cumulative cellular fatigue and physical degradation. Each revival and subsequent drying puts stress on the plant’s tissues, slowly reducing its ability to fully recover. Prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures or high humidity while dry can lead to mold, which compromises the plant’s structure. Storing the plant in a cool, dry environment can maintain its dormant state for a significantly longer duration.
The Process of Rehydration and Revival
When the dry, brown ball encounters water, the process of rehydration and revival begins almost immediately. The physical unfurling of the branches is a rapid mechanical process, often starting within a few hours. Within 24 to 48 hours, the plant’s branches will have fully opened into a flat, fern-like rosette.
As the plant absorbs water, its internal tissues rehydrate, and the protective sugar and polyol glass matrix dissolves, allowing cellular metabolism to restart. The plant gradually regains a green hue as photosynthesis resumes, signaling a return to life. To maintain long-term health, it should only be kept hydrated for a maximum of a few days to one week before being allowed to dry out completely again. This cyclical drying period mimics its natural desert conditions and prevents the development of rot or mold.