Portulaca oleracea
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Portulaca neglecta
- Portulaca retusa
- Phonetic Spelling
- por-tew-LAK-uh awl-lur-RAY-see-uh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Common Purslane is an annual succulent in the Portulacaceae family. It has smooth, reddish, mostly prostrate stems and alternate fleshy oval leaves. Leaves tend to be clustered at joints and stem ends. Flowers are small (1/4 inch), yellow, and have five heart-shaped petals that can appear any time of year. They can be found in the cluster of leaves at the stem end and they open only briefly in the morning hours. After flowering, each flower is replaced by a seed capsule. The capsules will split open, releasing dark brown to almost black seeds. In addition to reseeding itself, propagation can be accomplished by placing broken off stems in soil. These stems will produce roots.
This plant has a taproot and fibrous secondary roots that are able to tolerate poor, compacted soils and drought conditions.
It is a food source for wildlife. Varieties of sawfly mine the interior of the leaves or feed on the leaves. Sparrow eat the seeds, as well as the Prairie Deer Mouse. Pigs and deer also eat the leaves. The seeds, when eaten by White-tailed deer, pass through their digestive tract and remain viable.
Insect problems include aphids, gnats, snails and slugs. In wet areas, it may be affected by stem or root rot.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Portulaca
- Species:
- oleracea
- Family:
- Portulacaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western Asia, Mediterranean, likey ancient anthropogenic disper
- Distribution:
- Global, cosmopolitan
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts flowers flies, small bees and beetles, sparrow, deer. Low use as food for large mammals.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- Stems, leaves, and flowers are edible and have a slightly sour and salty taste. It cooks similar to spinach. It is eaten throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Mexico. Is edible and very nutritious because it contains high amounts of omega 3 fatty acids, significant amounts of vitamins A and C and anti-oxidants. Leaves, stems and flowers can be eaten raw, as in a salad, or boiled. Taste is sour or tart and salty. Mucilaginous quality works to thicken soups or stews. Seeds are also edible.Contains oxalates that can be toxic in if eaten in high amounts.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Edible
- Ground Cover
- Succulent
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Horizontal
- Prostrate
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- An egg-shaped capsule that will scatter tiny, black, shiny seed when it splits open.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Long Bloom Season
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are small (1/4 inch), yellow, and have five heart-shaped petals that can appear any time of year. They can be found in the cluster of leaves at the stem end and they open only briefly in the morning hours.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Spatulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Smooth, fleshy (thick and succulent) oval leaves that tend to be clustered at joints and stem ends. In bright sunlight, the leaves can take on a tinge of reddish-purple. Young leaves have a maroon tint on the underside.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are round, thick and succulent. They can be light green to reddish-brown in color. Each stem has multiple branches that create circular mats.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Riparian
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
