Scientific Name
Portulaca grandiflora Hook.
Synonym(s)
Portulaca grandiflora var. typica, Portulaca pilosa subsp. grandiflora, Portulaca pilosa var. grandiflora
Common Name(s)
Moss Rose, Moss Rose Purslane, Rose Moss, Mexican Rose, Sun Rose, Sun Plant, Rock Rose, Eleven O'Clock
Scientific Classification
Family: Portulacaceae
Subfamily: Portulacarioideae
Genus: Portulaca
Etymology
The specific epithet "grandiflora" (pronounced "gran-dih-FLOR-uh") means "large-flowered; having large flowers" and refers to the large flowers of this species compared to other members of the genus.
Origin
Portulaca grandiflora is native to Argentina, southern Brazil, and Uruguay.
Description
Portulaca grandiflora is an annual succulent with prostrate to suberect stems that bear fleshy, linear, green leaves. The stems are diffusely branched and hairy at the nodes, with branches up to 12 inches (30 cm) long. The leaves are alternate or irregularly scattered, measuring up to 1.2 inches (3 cm) in length.
The flowers range from purple, red, pink, orange, and yellow to white. They can reach a diameter of 2 inches (5 cm), appear in terminal clusters from late spring to frost, and do not open on cloudy or rainy days. The fruits are egg-shaped capsules with iridescent grey seeds. They can grow about 0.25 inches (0.6 cm) in diameter.
Varieties of Portulaca grandiflora
- Portulaca grandiflora var. grandiflora
- Portulaca grandiflora var. macrophylla
How to Grow and Care for Portulaca grandiflora
Portulacas tolerate many kinds of soil but prefer sandy, well-drained soil and love full sunlight. They are excellent for high heat and drought tolerance and will grow and spread well. Some control methods may be needed to prevent Portulacas from becoming invasive in unwanted areas. However, these wonderful plants do spread easily and very well.
These succulents require no attention when growing and flowering. However, you should remove them from the garden before Portulaca has a chance to set seeds, as they may take over the garden. You do not need to water often for proper Portulaca care. The cylindrical foliage of the plants retains moisture very well, so regular watering is not required. Light watering will be done when watered, as their root zone is very shallow.
Portulaca seeds should be sown on the soil surface after the last spring frost. Ideally, these plants should be grown in a sunny part of the garden. Starting Portulaca indoors begins about 1.5 months in advance.
Learn more in "How to Grow and Care for Portulaca."
Links
- Back to genus Portulaca
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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