Does it really come back to life?

It is not actually alive when it opens, but rather a physical reaction of the dead tissue to water.

Place the dry ball in a shallow dish of water to watch it open.

Plant guide

Rose of Jericho.

Anastatica hierochuntica

Pronounced an-uh-STAT-ih-kuh hy-roh-KUN-tih-kuh

Also known as Jericho-rose, rose-of-Jericho, true rose of Jericho

true rose of Jericho — Photo by Gianmaria Bonari (CC BY) via iNaturalist

The Rose of Jericho is a fascinating desert plant that survives extreme drought by curling into a ball. When it gets moisture, it unfurls its branches to release seeds. It is a true desert survivor that does not need traditional soil to thrive.

Another photo of Rose of Jericho — Photo by Robert Hoehndorf (CC BY) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Desert resurrection plant
Light: Bright indirect light is best for this desert plant.
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 1 to 7 days
Mature size: 6 inches
Growth rate: Slow
Hardiness: USDA 9 to 11
Bloom time: Spring

Care

Place the dried plant in a shallow dish of water to watch it open up. Change the water daily to prevent mold growth. Let it dry out completely between hydration sessions to mimic its natural cycle.

Watering: Keep the plant in a shallow tray of water only when you want it to open.
Feeding: This plant does not require any fertilizer.
Pruning: Pruning is not necessary for this plant.
Repotting: Repotting is not applicable since it does not grow in soil.
Soil: Sandy, very well-draining soil for growing plants; the dried skeleton needs no soil
Temperature: 5 to 45°C
Humidity: 10 to 40%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Annual, completes life cycle in one season.
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Roots circling the bottom of the pot.
Soil drying out too quickly.

Safety

People: There is no known toxicity, but it is not intended for human consumption.
Children: The small, dry seed pods could pose a choking hazard if swallowed by young children.
Contact allergens: None known.
Airborne allergens: The dry, dusty nature of the plant may irritate sensitive airways.
Edibility: This plant is not considered food and should not be ingested.

How to identify it

Small gray hairy leaves
Dormant state is a tight ball
Branches uncurl when wet but stay brown
Tiny white flowers
Woody seed pods

Height: 0.05 to 0.15m
Spread: 0.1 to 0.25m
Leaves: gray-green, deciduous
Flowers: white, 0.5 to 1cm
Fruit: brown, Late spring

Problems to watch for

DehydrationCommon
Root RotCommon
Soft RotUncommon
Stem RotUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring
Overwintering: Keep the plant completely dry and in a cool, well-ventilated area during the winter months.
In containers: It is best grown in a shallow, well-draining container or kept as a dry curiosity.

Seed Sowing

1. Sow seeds in sandy, well-draining soil.
2. Keep the soil barely moist until germination.
3. Reduce water once seedlings are established.

Keep this plant in a separate container to avoid overwatering it while caring for other species.

Grows well with

Desert Sage · It thrives in similar arid, sunny conditions.

Similar species

False Rose of Jericho · It is a fern ally that also curls and uncurls but is not related.

Science

Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Anastatica
Order: Brassicales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Deserts of the Middle East and North Africa.
Conservation: It is often over-collected in the wild for the tourist trade, so please source seeds responsibly.

The dead plant stays anchored in place rather than rolling away as a tumbleweed; when rain falls, its branches open and raindrops splash the seeds out onto nearby ground.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees
Uses: ornamental curiosity, botanical display

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 4/9
Soil reaction: 7/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 8/9
Moisture: 1/9
Nutrients: 2/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it really come back to life?: It is not actually alive when it opens, but rather a physical reaction of the dead tissue to water.
How do I water it?: Place the dry ball in a shallow dish of water to watch it open.

Where the name comes from

Anastatica comes from the Greek word for resurrection, referring to its ability to open when wet.

Good to know

It is famously known as the Rose of Jericho.
The plant can remain dormant for years until rain triggers its opening.
It is a true desert survivor that completes its life cycle very quickly.

Also in

Drought-tolerant plants

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.