Scientific Name
Portulaca oleracea L.
Common Names
Common Purslane, Purslane, Moss Rose, Pursley, Little Hogweed, Portulaca Weed, Pigweed, Wild Portulaca, Verdolaga, Red Root
Synonyms
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, frequently branching at the base and forming a spreading mat up to 6 inches (15 cm) tall and up to 2 feet (60 cm) diameter. Stems are round, thick, fleshy, and range in color from light green to reddish-brown. Leaves are fleshy, oval to spoon-shaped, and up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. They are usually shiny green, sometimes becoming reddish-purple in bright sunlight. Flowers are yellow and up to 0.25 inches (0.5 cm) in diameter. They open singly at the center of the leaf cluster for only a few hours on sunny mornings. Seeds are formed in a tiny pod, which opens when the seeds are mature.
Photo via flora.nhm-wien.ac.at
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 to 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 have a chance to set seed 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.
The seeds should be sown 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
Portulaca oleracea 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
- Succulentopedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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