Scientific Name
Portulaca umbraticola Kunth
Common Names
Wingpod Purslane, Crownpod Purslane
Synonyms
Portulaca umbraticola subsp. umbraticola, Portulaca coronata, Portulaca denudata, Portulaca lanceolata, Portulaca plano-operculata
Scientific Classification
Family: Portulacaceae
Subfamily: Portulacarioideae
Genus: Portulaca
Description
Portulaca umbraticola is an annual or short-lived perennial often incorrectly sold under the name of Portulaca oleracea. The uncultivated species is usually considered a weed, but it is the hybrid parent to many ornamental Purslanes. Leaves are small, fleshy, linear to spatulate, and green in color. Stems are fleshy, hairless, prostrate, ascending or erect, green, and often reddish. It grows up to 10 inches (25 cm) tall. Flowers are small, up to 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) across, yellow or yellow-tipped with red or copper.
Photo via elblogdelatabla.com
Hardiness
It is grown as an annual plant, so it has no USDA hardiness zone.
How to Grow and Care
Portulaca plants 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 and very well.
These succulents require no attention at all when growing and flowering. However, you should remove them from the garden before Portulacas 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 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. See more at How to Grow and Care for Portulaca.
Origin
Portulaca umbraticola is native to the arid areas of Central and South America.
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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