The magical rose of Jericho is a popular and widely sought out plant — for your skin and soul.
– KEYS SOULCARE
Don’t let the name “rose of Jericho” fool you: to the naked eye, this relative of the mustard plant more resembles a modest gray tumbleweed than anything you’d ever want in a fresh bouquet.
But, if you moisten its roots and give it a little time to rest, the magical rose of Jericho plant just might surprise you.
Read on for the beautiful backstory behind one of our favorite ingredients.
WHAT IS ROSE OF JERICHO?
Rose of Jericho is aptly nicknamed in the wellness and beauty worlds as “The Resurrection Plant.” It has the ability to lie dormant for years and then resurrect itself — bursting into foot-wide plants covered in tiny white blooms — when exposed to a little moisture.
“It springs back to life with the first drop of water,” says Keys Soulcare consulting dermatologist (and rose of Jericho fan) Renée Snyder, M.D.
This plant world “magic” behind rose of Jericho can be credited to trehalose, a plant-based sugar that allows it to slow and effectively “freeze” its cellular metabolism in the wake of unhealthy conditions.
And, once the rose of Jericho is exposed to a more ideal situation, it’ll restart, bloom, and spread seeds. (For your scrolling pleasure, check out this gorgeous, in-the-wild timelapse video to see what we mean.)
HISTORY OF ROSE OF JERICHO ORIGINS
Rose of Jericho possesses a rich history and has existed ecologically for thousands of years.
To get into the weeds — no pun intended — there are multiple varieties of rose of Jericho. Anastatica hierochuntica L. is a plant in the rose of Jericho family native to Saharan Asia, northeast Africa, and the Middle East.
Another species, called Selaginella lepidophylla, is native to the Chihuahuan Desert spanning parts of the United States and Mexico. This native plant is celebrated in Mexico for its powerful ability to restore itself back to life after a long dry spell.
Rose of Jericho’s time-defying ability to regenerate again and again (and again) has made it a popular spiritual symbol and intergenerational gift in religious communities ranging from Santeria and Yuroba to Catholicism. (Hoodoo practitioners, for example, recommend submerging five coins in a bowl with a blooming rose of Jericho to invite prosperity.)
In fact, the rose of Jericho has also been a focal point of celebrations and ceremonies around the world that celebrate renewal and remembrance. Rose of Jericho’s spiritual uses range widely across many different cultures around the world.
“[Its use] runs parallel to the way we understand life, love, and rebirth: The rose of Jericho is known to bring in protection and good luck, as well as to help balance negative energies in our lives,” says Jenelle Kim, master herbalist and doctor of Chinese medicine.
ROSE OF JERICHO MEANING
You may see the rose of Jericho referred to by any of these names, depending on the plant species:
- Resurrection plant
- Resurrection fern
- St. Mary’s flower
- Flower of Fatima
- Jericho flower
- False rose of Jericho (Selaginella lepidophylla)
POTENTIAL ROSE OF JERICHO BENEFITS FOR SKIN
Though clinically under-studied, the rose of Jericho plant has a far-reaching spiritual and cultural impact.
Rose of Jericho has hydrating properties that help skin feel nourished. That’s why Keys Soulcare resident dermatologist Dr. Renée Snyder infused rose of Jericho into specific offerings like our Reviving Aura Mist and Comforting Skin Balm.
WHAT KEYS SOULCARE SKINCARE PRODUCT OFFERINGS INCLUDE ROSE OF JERICHO?
REVIVING AURA MIST
With the Reviving Aura Facial Mist, witch hazel, rose water, and glycerin plus rose of Jericho combine to create a revitalizing toner and face mist that’s lightly rose scented. Simply spritz the mist onto skin whenever your skin craves refreshment.
COMFORTING SKIN BALM
The soothing Comforting Skin Balm helps provide hydration to many areas of the body, including lips, elbows, heels, cuticles or any dry areas.
Silky camellia seed oil, soothing shea butter, omega-rich avocado oil plus rose of Jericho come together in a thirst-quenching skin balm that also imparts a radiant glow when applied to skin.
We love how rose of Jericho symbolizes resilience and rebirth. Explore our ingredient glossary to learn about other time-tested ingredients used in ancient beauty rituals.
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