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Portulaca grandiflora

Phonetic Spelling
por-tew-LAY-kah gran-dih-FLOR-ah
Description

Moss rose is a low-growing annual native to South America. The plant has succulent leaves that are fleshy and narrow and grows 8 inches tall and 1 foot wide forming a matt. The flowers are red, orange, yellow, white and other pastel colors that come in single, semi-double and double forms.  The flowers do not open on cloudy or rainy days and close up from sundown to sun up.  

This plant has a high drought and heat tolerance and needs to be planted in well-drained sandy or rocky soils in full sun. Use Moss Rose in a rock or crevice garden, in the front of the border, in pots and hanging planters or allow to cascade down a wall. It will self-seed, without becoming invasive.  Deadheading will deter self-seeding.  They don't take well to transplanting and care should be given when handling seedlings.

Problems: Aphids and slugs may occasionally be a problem.  Poorly drained soils may lead to crown rot.

 

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

More information on Portulaca.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Crevice Garden at the Guilford County Extension Center
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Afternoon Delight'
    2" flowers that stay open longer in the afternoon
  • 'Calpyso Mix'
    Bright double flowers
  • 'Duet'
    Bicolor single flowers on conpact, free-flowering plants.
  • 'Fairy Tale'
    Pom-pom of petals in the center, flat outer petals
  • 'Happy Hour' series
    Fuller habit, large double blooms, blooms earlier.
  • 'Margarita' series
    Compact, mounding, early flowering.
  • 'Mojave' series
    Larger flowers.
  • 'Rio' series
    6 separately patented cultivars with large, brightly colored flowers.
  • 'Sundance'
    Semi-double flowers that remain open most of the day.
  • 'Sundial' series
    Early bloomer with double flowers that open in cooler and cloudier weather.
  • 'Sunnyside Flame'
    Orange blooms
  • 'Yubi Summer Joy' series
    Single blossom up to 3" that remain open late in the day. Plants are more trailing and broad leaves.
'Afternoon Delight', 'Calpyso Mix', 'Duet', 'Fairy Tale', 'Happy Hour' series, 'Margarita' series, 'Mojave' series, 'Rio' series, 'Sundance', 'Sundial' series, 'Sunnyside Flame', 'Yubi Summer Joy' series
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#white flowers#succulent#pink flowers#fall interest#hanging baskets#summer flowers#deer resistant#groundcover#naturalizes#rock garden#fantz#cactus#herbaceous annual#Guilford Crevice Garden#container plant#annual#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Afternoon Delight'
    2" flowers that stay open longer in the afternoon
  • 'Calpyso Mix'
    Bright double flowers
  • 'Duet'
    Bicolor single flowers on conpact, free-flowering plants.
  • 'Fairy Tale'
    Pom-pom of petals in the center, flat outer petals
  • 'Happy Hour' series
    Fuller habit, large double blooms, blooms earlier.
  • 'Margarita' series
    Compact, mounding, early flowering.
  • 'Mojave' series
    Larger flowers.
  • 'Rio' series
    6 separately patented cultivars with large, brightly colored flowers.
  • 'Sundance'
    Semi-double flowers that remain open most of the day.
  • 'Sundial' series
    Early bloomer with double flowers that open in cooler and cloudier weather.
  • 'Sunnyside Flame'
    Orange blooms
  • 'Yubi Summer Joy' series
    Single blossom up to 3" that remain open late in the day. Plants are more trailing and broad leaves.
'Afternoon Delight', 'Calpyso Mix', 'Duet', 'Fairy Tale', 'Happy Hour' series, 'Margarita' series, 'Mojave' series, 'Rio' series, 'Sundance', 'Sundial' series, 'Sunnyside Flame', 'Yubi Summer Joy' series
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#white flowers#succulent#pink flowers#fall interest#hanging baskets#summer flowers#deer resistant#groundcover#naturalizes#rock garden#fantz#cactus#herbaceous annual#Guilford Crevice Garden#container plant#annual#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Portulaca
    Species:
    grandiflora
    Family:
    Portulacaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay
    Play Value:
    Defines Paths
    Easy to Grow
    Edibility:
    Seeds are edible both raw or cooked
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 8 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Ground Cover
    Succulent
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Creeping
    Dense
    Horizontal
    Prostrate
    Spreading
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Green
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    Rounded 1/8-1/4 inch diameter seed capsules develop. When ripe, they split open, spilling numerous tiny, rounded to elongate, iridescent blue-grey seeds
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Saucer
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Ruffled rose-like flowers are produced on the stem tips. They are held facing up above the foliage. The petals are heart-shaped and usually have five per flower, though double-flowered cultivars exist. They close at night and on cloudy days.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Feel:
    Fleshy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Long-lasting
    Leaf Type:
    Needles
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Whorled
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Cylindrical leaves appear in whorled clusters or alternate arrangement along the stems. Fleshy, needle-like, succulent, and reaching about an inch long. Margins may take on a reddish tinge in direct sunlight.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Reddish multi-branched, prostrate to slightly ascending stems.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Hanging Baskets
    Meadow
    Naturalized Area
    Patio
    Pool/Hardscape
    Rock Wall
    Slope/Bank
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Edible Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Heat