Jessie Keith
Family
Portulacaceae
Botanical Name
Portulaca
Plant Common Name
Moss Rose
General Description
The approximately 100 species in the genus Portulaca are often useful but also include some common garden weeds. They are naturally distributed across the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, especially those in Africa and South America. Most grow best in dry, sunny, warm sites.
Generally portulacas are herbaceous and annual, though a few perennial species exist. The stems and leaves are fleshy, almost succulent, and the plants well-branched with low, spreading habits. The stems may have scales, bristles or hairs and leaves may be spatula-shaped, needle-like or round and with or without leaf stems. Leaf color varies from bright green, to olive and bronzy red.
The bright Portulaca flowers are produced singly or in clusters. They are usually cupped, almost rose-like, and may have a single row of petals or many. Bloom color may be white, red, pink, peach, yellow, purple or scarlet. Bicolored cultivars with striped petals are common. Many species are morning bloomers that open with the sun and close by afternoon or stay closed on cloudy days. The fruits are capsules filled with many small brown or black seeds.
The best known garden Portulaca is the small, colorful moss rose (Portulaca grandiflora). This heat tolerant beauty is a low-growing, spreading annual that originates from South America. Another less appealing but equally common species is little hogweed, or common purslane (Portulaca oleracea). This summer annual is a widespread succulent weed that originates from Persia. Though a garden pest, it is edible and has been cultivated for thousands of years as a pot herb for salads.
Hardiness and culture are species dependent, but most Portulaca prefer hot sun and average to poor well-drained soil. Generally, they are very drought tolerant once established and tend to be easy to grow if not overwatered. They are commonly seed grown, so they are easy for gardeners to grow from home. Ornamental Portulaca is a good choice for sunny containers and hot spots where bright color is needed.
