Rose Moss Portulaca grandiflora
- Phonetic Spelling
- por-tew-LAY-kah gran-dih-FLOR-ah
- Description
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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.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Crevice Garden at the Guilford County Extension Center
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- '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'
- '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:
- 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'
- '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:
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Reddish multi-branched, prostrate to slightly ascending stems.
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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
