Download Horticulture Hints By Yvonne McCormick, ISU Extension

Horticulture Hints
By Yvonne McCormick, ISU Extension Horticulturist
Resurrection plants
A fun novelty plant for this time of year is the resurrection plant. This plant, also called resurrection fern
or Jerusalem rose, when purchased appears to be a dead cluster of dried, brown leaves. But once the
plant is placed in water, it will appear to magically come back life, as the leaves will open up and turn
green. Once taken out of water and becomes dry again, the plant reverts back to a ball of dead looking
leaves.
How does this plant’s “magic” ability to survive desiccation take place? Native to desert areas of Africa
and Americas, during times of drought, these plants go dormant and appear dead—curling into a tuft of
dry stems and leaves. Resurrection plants can withstand losing up to 97 percent of their water and thus
able to survive. Most other types of plants will tolerate only about a 10 percent loss of water from their
cells before they succumb due to loss of moisture.
But resurrection plants, (scientific name Selaginella lepidophylla), can survive long periods of drought in
the desert by folding up when dry and unfurling again when moistened by rain. It has been estimated that
resurrection plants can exist in a semi-dry state for at almost 100 years.
Did you know? For many years now at Easter time (since my daughter was young) I have used the
same resurrection plant. Placed in a shallow bowl of water over night, the plant once again uncurls and
turns green. What great memories…and now my grandson also enjoys the magic of this plant.
Gardening Questions? Contact McCormick at [email protected] for information or advice.