Portulaca
Sun plant, Moss rose
- Height × spread
- 0.2m – 0.2m × 0.3m – 0.3m
- Position
- Full sun
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
There are around 100 species of these and they are annuals, herbaceous plants and succulent shrubs. They are found growing in various southern parts of Africa. These plants are appealing, both for their fleshy foliage and their rounded flowers which come in a wide range of colours in the red to white, yellow and orange range. They are frequently grown from seed and will flower all summer, being discarded in the autumn. A few forms are frost hardy. One form, Portulaca oleracea (Purslane), an annual, is often grown in herb gardens. It may be eaten in salads or used for its many medicinal properties.
- Flower colour
- Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Dome
- Height
- 0.2m – 0.2m
- Spread
- 0.3m – 0.3m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Small scale garden, Seaside garden, Prairie garden, Herb garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry soil, Drought resistant
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, most are not hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Bee attraction
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water during drought
In drought conditions where established plants in the ground have had no water for a month, do a deep watering. If drought continues repeat after a fortnight. Plants only need watering during spring to autumn growth. Check plants in pots more often.
Established plants have a good degree of drought tolerance. Water after a prolonged period of drought. Many drought tolerant plants can rapidly revive, even when much of the foliage has died. They will respond with new growth.