General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Cactus/Succulent
Life cycle: Annual
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Water Preferences: Mesic
Dry Mesic
Dry
Plant Height: 6 inches
Plant Spread: 12 inches
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Orange
Pink
Red
White
Yellow
Bloom Size: 1"-2"
Flower Time: Summer
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Uses: Groundcover
Will Naturalize
Propagation: Seeds: Self fertile
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Pollinators: Self
Various insects
Containers: Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous: Tolerates poor soil

Image
Common names
  • Moss Rose
  • Rose Moss
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Portulaca grandiflora
  • Synonym: Portulaca grandiflora var. immersostellulata

Photo Gallery
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Date: 2014-05-27
A small bee deep inside!!!
Location: Socorro, NM
Date: 2015-12-16
Location: Temple, Texas
Date: 2021-06-18
Sold under name of Portulaca grandiflora "Salmon"
Location: In my zone 8 garden
Date: August 29, 2015
Location: Phoenix ,AZ
Date: Summer time
Portulaca Grandiflora
Location: Pacific Northwest, zone 8
Date: 2014-08-15
Location: Woodbridge , Va
Date: 2016-05-30
Photo by Jai_Ganesha
Location: Willow Valley Communities, Lakes Campus, Willow Street, Pennsylvania
Date: 2021-06-20
Location: Lake Macquarie, N.S.W., Australia
Date: 2014-12-28
Location: Temple, Texas
Date: 2021-08-16
Portulaca grandiflora 'Salmon' at my home. Part sun to full shade
Location: Cordoba, Argentina
Location: Lake Macquarie, N.S.W., Australia
Date: 2018-01-25
Location: Middle Tennessee
Date: 2014-06-29
Location: Canoga Park, California
Date: 2009-05-30
Location: Kalama, Wa
Date: 2011-07-07
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: In my garden
Date: 2014-05-20
Location: Our yard in Middle Tennessee
Date: 2014-09-17
Location: Temple, Texas
Date: 2021-08-16
Hanging on lamp post my front yard.  Part sun most of day.
Location: Temple, Texas
Date: 2021-08-16
Sold as P. grandiflora 'Salmon' but looks peach to me.  Fully dou
Location: Middle Tennessee
Date: 2014-06-24
Location: Cordoba, Argentina
Location: Tabby's Garden
Date: 2011-07-10
Location: Kalama, wa
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Kalama, wa
  • Uploaded by Joy

Date: 2019-09-14
Location: Houston
Date: 2014-05-18
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2014-07-29
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2014-08-22
Location: Lake Macquarie, N.S.W., Australia
Date: 2017-12-21
Location: Lake Macquarie, N.S.W., Australia
Date: 2014-12-28
Location: Cordoba, Argentina
Location: Middle Tennessee
Date: 2014-07-05
Location: Fairfax, VA | June, 2023
Date: 2023-06-06
Photo by pretty_paws_29

Date: 2020-08-25
Seed grown
Location: In my garden in Kalama, Wa.
Date: Mid Summer
A collage of  Moss Rose
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Canoga Park, California
Date: 2009-06-16
Location: My garden
Date: 2014-09-08
Location: Middle Tennessee
Date: 2014-06-29
Location: Willow Valley Communities, Lakes Campus, Willow Street, Pennsylvania
Date: 2021-06-20

photo credit: Jeevan Jose, Kerala, India
Location: Fairfax, VA | April, 2023
Date: 2023-04-25
Location: My Garden
Date: 2013-08-27
Location: Opp, AL
Date: 2015-07-20
Photo by Newyorkrita
Location: Odenton Maryland
Date: 2017-07-15
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2014-06-01
These took 4 days to germinate.
Location: Middle Tennessee
Date: 7/3/2011
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2014-07-17
Location: Lincoln NE zone 5
Date: 2017-05-30

Date: 2013-05-12

credit: Jerzy Opioła
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2014-08-22
Location: My deck
Date: 2014-09-19
Location: South Florida
Date: 2012-07-23
Pretty double flower portulaca in pink.
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2014-09-18
More seedlings in bloom
Location: Mackinaw, Illinois
Date: 2012-07-09
Wide variety of colors, both solid and streaky, are available.
Location: Mackinaw, Illinois
Date: 2012-07-09
Fleshy, needle-like leaves are soft and flexible.
Location: Mackinaw, Illinois
Date: 2012-07-09
Thirty-six little portulacas, in six packs.  Very shallow roots,
This plant is tagged in:
Image Image Image Image Image Image

Comments:
  • Posted by SongofJoy (Clarksville, TN - Zone 6b) on Sep 17, 2014 7:35 AM concerning plant:
    The red variety of this plant is beautiful. It reseeds and the color doesn't seem to fade.
  • Posted by SongofJoy (Clarksville, TN - Zone 6b) on Feb 3, 2012 6:51 AM concerning plant:
    This plant is widely grown in temperate climates as an ornamental annual bedding plant or as a container plant. Numerous cultivars have been selected for double flowers with additional petals and for variation in flower color. It requires ample sunlight and well-drained soils. It requires almost no care. Seeds are often sold as mixtures.
  • Posted by Boopaints (Phoenix, AZ 85022) on May 24, 2014 3:59 PM concerning plant:
    Portulacaceae includes plants commonly called Portulaca and Purslane, with many other nicknames, such as Moss Rose and Wingpod.

    All over the country and perhaps the world there is mass confusion about the Latin names and I have found that even some nurseries are confused. I was given a lesson by a grower and this is my take on the purslane plants, which I adore.

    P. oleracea = Wild plant with small yellow (usually) flowers; edible. (I have seen websites listing P. umbraticola incorrectly, so never trust what you read to be true. Except this post, of course. :)

    P. grandiflora = Showy double blooms, many colors, with spiky leaves. Called Portulaca by most nurseries and growers. Some call it Moss Rose.

    P. umbraticola = Showy, many colors, usually a single petal formation but there are more doubles showing up. The leaves are paddle shaped. Called Purslane by most nurseries and growers.
  • Posted by plantladylin (Sebastian, Florida - Zone 10a) on Oct 20, 2011 8:22 PM concerning plant:
    Portulaca grandiflora is a prostrate, trailing, multi-stemmed plant that is a favorite garden annual around the world. It has reddish stems and thick succulent green leaves. The flowers look like little roses and are borne at the tips of the stems. There are single and double varieties in colors of pink, orange, yellow, white and red. The flowers usually open in sunlight and close at night and on cloudy days. Moss Rose is drought tolerant, prefers full sun and does well in poor, sandy well draining soil.
Plant Events from our members
piksihk On January 16, 2017 Seeds sown
with other portulaca
piksihk On November 26, 2016 Obtained plant
botanical interests seeds = double blend
dragonfetti On April 11, 2015 Obtained plant
From HD; 3 six packs; $1.00 ea.
MySecretIslandGarden On June 16, 2022 Miscellaneous Event
The dollar tree moss rose seeds were a success. .25 for the packet
» Post your own event for this plant

Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Apricot Moss Rose(Portulaca) by Pippi21 Aug 28, 2012 6:26 AM 3
Your sprouts? by purpleinopp Apr 27, 2023 10:55 AM 2

« Add a new plant to the database

« The Plants Database Front Page