Portulaca - The Ultimate Growing Guide from Proven Winners®
Use this colorful flowering annual to add quick color to your yard
See all Proven Winners® portulaca varieties
Portulaca (Portulaca grandiflora and spp.) is an ornamental flowering plant with a ground cover habit, small fleshy green leaves, and single or double blooms in a rainbow of pastel or bright hues. Also known as moss rose or purslane, this tender succulent includes some species that are edible. Purslane flowers close at night and reopen the next day, and may also close on overcast days or other low light conditions.
This warm season tropical plant grows quickly and is easy to grow from seed or starts, thriving in full sun, heat, humidity, drought and poor soils. “For water sensitive landscapes with high light levels, and sometimes blazing summer temperatures, you need tough and reliable flowers,” says Janey Santos of Dig, Plant, Water, Repeat.
Portulaca blooms continuously from summer to frost, providing long-lasting color to beds, borders and containers. The brightly colored flowers are attractive to butterflies and other insect pollinators. Learn how to grow and use this colorful plant in your landscape.
Spurge vs purslane: Common purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is a weedy plant that is foraged and eaten for its nutritional properties. It is often confused with spotted spurge (Euphorbia maculata), a toxic invasive weed. The milky sap can cause irritation and contact with the skin, eyes, nose and mouth should be avoided. Ingestion of spotted spurge can cause vomiting and stomach distress. Caution should be taken to properly identify edible purslane plants before eating.
PORTULACA PLANT CARE & PLANTING
How to plant: Choose a site with well-draining soil that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight. Wait until all danger of frost has passed in your area and the soil has warmed up. Follow these steps and space plants 6 to 12 inches apart, depending on the variety.
- Loosen soil in the planting area and lightly amend to improve drainage.
- Remove the plant from its nursery container and avoid disturbing the fragile roots.
- Dig a hole slightly wider and deeper than the root ball.
- Place plant in the hole so the crown of the plant is level with the surrounding soil.
- Fill in the hole with soil and tamp down gently to remove air pockets.
- Provide moderate water until plants are established.
Soil: Portulaca does best in sandy or rocky soil that drains well. When planting portulaca in pots, use an all-purpose potting mix, adding perlite for extra drainage.
Watering: Portulaca prefers dry conditions, but will flower best with some moisture. Provide supplemental water as needed during heat and dry spells. Portulaca is shallow rooted, making plants more prone to root rot if overwatered.
Fertilizing: Portulaca prefers lean conditions and needs little or no supplemental fertilizer. Soil that is too rich, or overfertilizing may result in foliage growth at the expense of flowers.
Pruning: Portulaca plants need little or no deadheading, as spent flowers are self-cleaning. If plants become leggy, prune back by up to half their size in mid-summer, and apply a very light, one-time dose of fertilizer to stimulate new growth.
TRY THESE PROVEN WINNERS® VARIETIES
“The Mojave portulacas all have what I consider to be an iridescent glow with their rich colors. Mojave Fuchsia, Yellow and Tangerine will all light up your garden with a riotous show of color,” says Norman Winter in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. (Read the full article)
Try these cheerful varieties in your landscape:
 | Mojave® Red Purslane (Portulaca umbraticola) Zones: Annual |
 | Mojave® Yellow Purslane (Portulaca umbraticola) Zones: Annual |
 | Mojave® Tangerine Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) Zones: Annual |
 | Mojave® Fuchsia Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) Zones: Annual |
 | Mojave® Mango Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) Zones: Annual |
 | Mojave® Pink Purslane (Portulaca umbraticola) Zones: Annual |
PORTULACA FAQs
Is portulaca a perennial?
Portulaca is widely distributed in tropical and warm temperate regions across the globe. It grows as a perennial in frost-free climates and is an annual elsewhere.
Is portulaca a succulent?
This flowering annual is a succulent, producing small fleshy leaves with a rounded or needle-like shape.
Do portulaca like sun or shade?
Portulaca plant needs full sun to produce flowers. Too little light will result in a leggy growth habit and fewer blooms that won’t stay open.
Do deer eat portulaca?
This ground cover plant is somewhat deer resistant, as it is not a preferred food source for deer. During warmer weather when food is plentiful, deer will usually graze on other plants.
Does portulaca spread?
This fast-growing annual spreads quickly to form a dense mat, making it useful for providing instant color or filling in gaps. “These beauties are annuals and will grow to be 4-8" tall by 12-16" wide so they are a perfect spiller component to a container or to fill in a space in your landscape,” says Jenny Simpson of Creekside Nursery (view post).
What temperature can portulaca tolerate?
This tender succulent prefers hotter temperatures between 70° F and 90° F. Temperatures above 100° F or below 50° F may result in heat or cold damage.
How do you keep purslane blooming?
Provide at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight to keep plants actively producing flowers. In mid-summer, plants can be pruned back by up to half their size to stimulate new growth and flowers. Deadheading spent blooms may also help to prolong flowering.
Is purslane edible?
Common purslane is a prolific summer weed with a sprawling habit, small fleshy leaves, and inconspicuous yellow flowers with no ornamental value. The leaves and stems can be eaten raw or cooked, and are high in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
HOW TO USE PORTULACA IN YOUR LANDSCAPE
The easy-care nature and long bloom time makes portulaca a versatile addition to home landscapes. Try some of these ideas on how to use ornamental purslane in your yard:
- Plant flowering portulaca in between stepping stones, or use to edge pathways.
- Create a purslane hanging basket with portulaca planted by itself or in combination with other plants that prefer full sun and hot dry conditions.
- Mass portulaca along a slope for quick color.
- Plant along the top of a narrow rock wall where plants can cascade over the side for a waterfall of color. Find more plants for tight spaces.
- Portulaca can be used as a ground cover in a waterwise curbside strip for bright color all summer long.
- Adorn a sunny porch, patio or balcony with hanging baskets brimming over with vibrant shades of portulaca flowers. Find more sun-loving annuals for window boxes and patios.
- Plant portulaca in rock gardens alongside other drought tolerant plants such as creeping phlox, ice plant, dianthus and sedum for weeks of continuous color.
- Edge a border with brightly colored portulaca varieties for sizzling summer color.
- Use portulaca as a ground cover or lawn substitute to quickly fill in gaps in beds and borders. Find more garden filler plants.
- With its low growth habit and fleshy water-storing leaves, portulaca makes a good addition to landscapes in areas prone to wildfires. Find more fire-resistant plants.
PORTULACA COMPANION PLANTS
Plant portulaca alongside other plants with similar growing needs of full sun and lean, well-drained soil.
Include portulaca in a waterwise curbside strip alongside:
- ‘Cat’s Meow’ catmint
- Meant to Bee® ‘Royal Raspberry’ anise hyssop
- Prairie Winds® ‘Brush Strokes’ little bluestem
- Rainbow Rhythm® ‘Primal Scream’ daylily
Adorn a rock garden with portulaca and:
- Rock ‘N Round® ‘Popstar’ stonecrop
- Kaleidoscope™ ‘Razzle Dazzle’ ice plant
- Mountainside® ‘Crater Lake’ spring phlox
- Fruit Punch® ‘Classic Coral’ pinks
Use portulaca in hanging baskets, window boxes or containers with:
- Lemon Coral® sedum
- Snowstorm® Blue bacopa
- Superbena® Peachy Keen verbena
- Graceful Grasses® purple fountain grass
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