Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) Growing & Care Guide for Gardeners
Article by Dean Ravenscroft, Ph.D. - Updated 1st Feb 2024
- Plant Characteristics: A low-growing succulent with fleshy leaves and vibrant, multi-colored flowers. Thrives in hot, sunny conditions and is often used as ground cover or in rock gardens.
- Growing & Care: Prefers well-drained soil and full sun. Extremely drought-tolerant and can thrive in poor, sandy soils. Minimal watering is required.
- Tips for New Gardeners: An excellent plant for beginners due to its hardy and forgiving nature. Great for adding color to dry, challenging spots in the garden. Can spread rapidly, so consider its placement.
The Portulaca oleracea plant, better known as Purslane, Common Purslane, Verdolaga, or Moss Rose.
It is seen as a prostrate weed by many gardeners in the USA.
In Europe however, it has a long history of culinary use, and may often make up part of a vegetable garden.
It has a similar flavour to watercress and spinach.
Wild Purslane photograph by Isidre blanc; CC.
As there are many cultivars available, prettier types can also be used as ornamental plants, in addition to its use as a salading.
Unlike the small yellow flowers of the wild-type, ornamental cultivars have flowers that can be up to two inches (5 cm) in diameter; and these may be pink, white, or orange.
If growing purslane to eat then be aware that they are tastiest when young.
So ideally use young leaves and newly grown stem tips for the best tenderness.
Ideally eat raw, but if you wish to cook it then do not over heat as it will go slimy.
Although the plant is mainly water it is a rich source of vitamins and minerals. It is especially rich in vitamims E and C. It is also a good source of magnesium, manganese, and Iron.
The plant is naturally native to the Mediterranean regions of southern Europe and Northern Africa; and West and southern Asia.
In addition to its culinary uses, Purslane also makes a good companion plant.
This is because this beneficial weed has the ability to cover bare ground and can create humid microclimates.
It naturally has deep roots, other plants can follow these roots down. thus enabling them to draw up more moisture and nutrients than they would be able to normally.
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Quick Growing and Care Guide
- Scientific Name: Portulaca oleracea
- Common Name (s): Purslane, Common Purslane, Verdolaga, Red root, Pursley, Pussley, Little hogweed, Moss Rose
- Growing Zone (USA / UK Hardiness): 2 to 11 / H7
Plant Details
- Life Cycle / Plant Type: Annual Succulent.
- Plant Height: 3 to 12 inches (8 to 30 cm).
- Plant Spread: Prostrate. 6 to 18 inches (15 to 45 cm).
- Blooms: Anytime of year, but more often sometime from the start of summer until the first frost. Flowers only open on sunny days.
- Flower Details: Yellow. Cultivars may be red, orange, pink, or white. 1/4 inch diameter.
- Leaf Foliages: Alternative, opposite. Green.
Growing Conditions
- Best Light Conditions: Full sunlight
- Suitable Soil Types: Well drained. Poor to average soils.
- Suitable Soil pH: 5.5 to 7.
- Soil Soil Moisture: Medium to dry.
- Sowing, planting, and Propagation: Sow on the surface. Following the last frost of spring. Transplant indoor grown plants following the last frost.
- Care: Low maintenance plant. Self-seeds. Remove plants before they set seed to prevent spreading, especially in warm areas.
Further Information
- Best used for: Gardens with poor soils, ground cover, salad garden, rock gardens, edging.
- Miscellaneous: Tolerates drought.
- Family: Portulacaceae.
- Closely related species and genera: Portulaca Genus Growing Guide; Rock Purslane.
- Further Reading and References used for this Portulaca oleracea growing guide: Purslane as an edible plant; Is purslane really a weed?
I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Portulaca oleracea plants. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ Salad growing guides: How to grow Cress, Aralia elata, Eriophorum plant, and Lettuce.
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