Talinum paniculatum is a succulent subshrub commonly known as Jewels of Opar, Fame Flower, or Pink Baby's Breath. It is a charming plant that no garden should be without. The stunning lime green leaves bring a cooling feel to any garden, and the hazy red flowers look like smoke or cotton candy hanging over the plants. Excellent for hot, dry areas or as a pot plant on sunny decks. Jewels of Opar needs full sun but is easy to grow and care for, takes little effort with a great reward. It is very easy to grow and care for, but you can eat it in your salad too!
Location and Care
This plant prefers a full sun location but can tolerate a small amount of shade for part of the day. It does well in hot, dry areas. It can be drought-tolerant for several weeks but benefits from some watering. Jewels of Opar does best in sandy and well-drained soils and is tolerant of poor soils and heat. Excellent for rock gardens and hot areas where not too much else grows.
The lime green leaves brighten up any garden, and it makes a beautiful border plant or addition to any flower garden. Will reseed itself once established. Just thin out the seedlings or transplant them to where you want them. If reseeding is undesirable, deadhead as seeds form. Sadly seeds usually form on the same stalks that are still flowering, so this is often hard to do.
Jewels of Opar does well as a pot plant and is excellent on hot sunny decks where the lime green leaves provide an appearance of coolness.
Growing
Seeds are tiny, so although they can be sown directly outside, keeping weeds from the bed while they germinate can be difficult. Indoor germination is recommended. If you choose to sow outside, do so 2 to 4 weeks after the first frost date when the soil is warm.
Start 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date in good potting soil, flats, or plug cells. Germination is easy and usually begins within 6 to 14 days, depending on temperature and other conditions. Best temperatures are between 65 and 75 °F (18 and 24 °C). Do not cover the seeds as light aids germination.
Transplant to small pots and grow until small plants harden off before transplanting out. Do so on a cloudy day with a likelihood of rain to ensure the plant can establish itself well. Since planting in a hot sunny location, plants need to be watered well until established.
Edible Uses
The leaves are succulent and make an excellent addition to salads and sandwiches. They are especially valuable since they are available in hot, dry weather when little other salad greens are to be had.
The seeds are tiny but nutritious and could be a good source of Omega 3 oils, as seeds of other Portulaca species are avidly collected by indigenous peoples and have recently been compared favorably with flaxseed.
Medical Uses
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, this plant is known as Tu-ren-shen and is used to tone the digestion, moistens the lungs, and promotes breast milk.
Useful for treating headaches, aphrodisiac, pneumonia, diarrhea, a lot of urine, irregular menstruation, vaginal discharge, and a little milk. The roots are used for impotence. The juice from the leaves is used to smooth expenditures, treat ulcers, and increase appetite.
Caution: Poisoning can occur if you use too much. It is usually characterized by nausea, vomiting, and shortness of breath.
Other Uses
It akes an excellent cut flower. The airy spikes with their shiny red globes make wonderful filler for all kinds of flower arrangements. Stalks can also be dried for longer use in lasting displays.
Source: floralencounters.com
Links
- Back to genus Talinum
- Succulentopedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus