Scientific Name
Portulaca oleracea L.
Common Name(s)
Common Purslane, Purslane, Moss Rose, Pursley, Little Hogweed, Portulaca Weed, Pigweed, Wild Portulaca, Verdolaga, Red Root
Synonym(s)
Portulaca oleracea subsp. oleracea, Portulaca neglecta, Portulaca retusa, Portulaca consanguinea, Portulaca fosbergii, Portulaca hortensis, Portulaca intermedia, Portulaca latifolia, Portulaca marginata, Portulaca officinarum, Portulaca olitoria, Portulaca parvifolia, Portulaca pilosa var. marginata, Portulaca retusa, Portulaca sativa, Portulaca suffruticosa, Portulaca sylvestris
Scientific Classification
Family: Portulacaceae
Subfamily: Portulacarioideae
Genus: Portulaca
Description
Portulaca oleracea is an annual succulent with prostrate or decumbent, repeatedly branched stems and thick fleshy leaves, often somewhat crowded towards the ends of the branches, forming a spreading mat. The stems are glabrous or pilose at nodes and are usually reddish-tinged. Leaves are elliptic to obovoid with a short petiole, up to 1.2 inches (3 cm) long and up to 0.4 inches (1 cm) wide. They are glistening white below and green or purplish-green above. Flowers are yellow, up to 0.5 inches (1 cm) in diameter, and can appear any time of year, solitary or in clusters of 3 to 5 at the end of the branches. They are open only a few hours on sunny mornings. Fruits are ovoid many-seeded capsules.
Hardiness
It is grown as an annual plant, so it has no USDA hardiness zone.
How to Grow and Care
Portulacas tolerate many kinds of soil but prefer sandy, well-drained soil and love the full sunlight. These plants are excellent for high heat and drought tolerance and will seed and spread themselves very well. Some control methods may be needed to keep Portulacas from becoming invasive in areas they are not wanted. These wonderful plants do spread easily.
These succulents require no attention at all when growing and flowering. However, you should remove them from the garden before plants 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. Thus, regular watering is not required. When they are watered, just a light watering will do, as their root zone is very shallow.
Sow the seeds on the soil surface following the last frost of spring. Ideally, these plants should be grown in a sunny part of the garden. If starting Portulaca indoors, then start about one and a half months in advance.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Portulaca.
Origin
This species has an extensive distribution from North Africa and Southern Europe through the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent to Malesia and Australasia.
Subspecies and Cultivars
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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