Mature size & growth rate

How big does Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant) (Selaginella lepidophylla) get?

Also called Rose of Jericho, False Rose of Jericho, Resurrection plant, Resurrection moss, Dinosaur plant, Flower of stone, Doradilla.

More about rose of jericho (resurrection plant)

About Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant)

Selaginella lepidophylla · also called Rose of Jericho, False Rose of Jericho · houseplant

The false rose of Jericho is a desert spikemoss (a lycophyte, not a true fern) that curls into a dry brown ball, then unfurls bright green within hours of watering. Give it bright indirect light, frequent fresh water, warmth, and humidity. ASPCA data on the genus indicates it is pet-safe.

Mature size: Small - roughly 5 cm (2 in) tall and about 8-15 cm (3-6 in) across when open and hydrated; curls into a fist-sized ball when dry.

Watch for — Mold or rot from stagnant water: A musty smell or fuzzy growth on the base means standing water has gone stale. Change the dish water frequently (ideally daily), give it dry days, and keep good airflow; remove affected parts and let it dry out fully before rehydrating.

Indoor size vs how big it gets in the wild

Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant) is a garden shrub whose final size is set more by your secateurs than by the plant — pruning, not luck, decides how big it gets. Indoors and in a pot, expect small - roughly 5 cm (2 in) tall and about 8-15 cm (3-6 in) across when open and hydrated. In the ground with no restriction it is a completely different plant — curls into a fist-sized ball when dry. — which is why the pot, the light and the pruning matter so much for the size you actually end up with.

Left unpruned it builds a woody framework that gets taller and wider every year; with annual pruning you hold it at whatever size suits the space.

Growth rate and years to mature

Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant) is a moderate grower. Realistically, expect three to six years to reach mature indoor size, gaining a steady amount each growing season. Its feeding profile backs this up: feeds very lightly. it needs little to no fertiliser; an occasional weak, diluted balanced liquid feed during active green growth in spring and summer is plenty. skip feeding entirely while it is dormant and dried out.

Want this turned into the right next pot at the right moment? The pot size calculator and the rose of jericho (resurrection plant) repotting guide cover when and how much to size up — pot size is one of the biggest levers on how fast rose of jericho (resurrection plant) grows.

How to keep rose of jericho (resurrection plant) smaller

You are not stuck with the maximum size. For rose of jericho (resurrection plant) specifically, these are the levers, in order of impact:

Prune rose of jericho (resurrection plant) annually at the right time for its type — this is the primary, expected way to control its size.
Remove the oldest, thickest stems at the base each year to keep it open and within bounds.
Growing it in a large container rather than open ground naturally restricts the ultimate size.
Avoid heavy feeding if you want to limit growth — rich soil and lots of nitrogen drive bigger, faster shrubs.

The keep-it-smaller method, step by step

Prune at the right time. Time the cut to rose of jericho (resurrection plant)'s type (after flowering for many spring shrubs, late winter for summer-flowering ones) so you do not lose the next display.
Take out the oldest stems. Remove up to a third of the oldest, thickest stems at the base to renew the shrub and contain it.
Shorten the rest. Cut the remaining stems back to an outward-facing bud at the height and width you want.
Restrict the roots. For a permanent size cap, grow it in a large container rather than open ground.

How to grow rose of jericho (resurrection plant) bigger or faster

If you want it to fill the space sooner, push the conditions rather than hoping — for rose of jericho (resurrection plant) the accelerators are:

Plant it in open ground in good soil — far more vigorous than a container-restricted plant.
Full sun (which it wants) plus an annual mulch and feed gives the strongest growth.
Water well through the first establishment years; a settled root system drives the fastest size gain.

Light is almost always the ceiling. The rose of jericho (resurrection plant) light requirements page covers exactly how bright a spot it needs to grow at its potential instead of stalling.

When rose of jericho (resurrection plant) outgrows the room (or the pot)

"Too big" usually arrives as one of these signs for rose of jericho (resurrection plant):

It shades or crowds neighbouring plants, or blocks a path it used to clear.
Bare, woody, unproductive centres with growth only on the outside — a sign it needs renovation pruning.
It has clearly exceeded the space you allotted and an annual trim no longer holds it.

If it is the pot rather than the room, it is a repotting job, not a goodbye — see the rose of jericho (resurrection plant) repotting guide. If you want more of this plant instead of a bigger one, the rose of jericho (resurrection plant) propagation guide turns prunings into new plants.

Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant) size — frequently asked questions

How big does rose of jericho (resurrection plant) get?

Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant) reaches small - roughly 5 cm (2 in) tall and about 8-15 cm (3-6 in) across when open and hydrated when grown indoors, and far larger where it grows unrestricted (curls into a fist-sized ball when dry.). Left unpruned it builds a woody framework that gets taller and wider every year; with annual pruning you hold it at whatever size suits the space.

Is rose of jericho (resurrection plant) slow or fast growing?

Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant) is a moderate grower. Expect three to six years to reach mature indoor size, gaining a steady amount each growing season. Rose of Jericho (Resurrection Plant) is a garden shrub whose final size is set more by your secateurs than by the plant — pruning, not luck, decides how big it gets.

How long does rose of jericho (resurrection plant) take to reach full size?

Roughly three to six years to reach mature indoor size, gaining a steady amount each growing season. Light, pot size and feeding move that timeline more than anything else.

How do I keep rose of jericho (resurrection plant) smaller?

Prune rose of jericho (resurrection plant) annually at the right time for its type — this is the primary, expected way to control its size. Remove the oldest, thickest stems at the base each year to keep it open and within bounds. Growing it in a large container rather than open ground naturally restricts the ultimate size. Avoid heavy feeding if you want to limit growth — rich soil and lots of nitrogen drive bigger, faster shrubs.

How can I make rose of jericho (resurrection plant) grow bigger or faster?

Plant it in open ground in good soil — far more vigorous than a container-restricted plant. Full sun (which it wants) plus an annual mulch and feed gives the strongest growth. Water well through the first establishment years; a settled root system drives the fastest size gain.