Scientific Name
Portulaca oleracea subsp. sativa (Haw.) Čelak.
Accepted Scientific Name
Common Name(s)
Golden Purslane
Synonym(s)
Portulaca sativa, Portulaca oleracea var. sativa
Scientific Classification
Family: Portulacaceae
Subfamily: Portulacarioideae
Genus: Portulaca
Origin
Portulaca oleracea subsp. sativa exists mainly in cultivated forms in Iran and is occasionally found as escaped from cultivation in the wild.
Description
Portulaca oleracea subsp. sativa is an annual, low-growing succulent with much bigger, more yellow, and less succulent leaves than Portulaca oleracea subsp. oleracea. It can spread up to 2 feet (60 cm). The stems are mostly the same color as the leaves.
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 that are not wanted. However, these beautiful plants do spread easily and very well.
These succulents require no attention at all when growing and flowering. However, you should remove them from the garden before Portulacas can 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 needed. When they are watered, just a light watering will do, as their root zone is very shallow.
The seeds of Portulacas 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.
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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