I'm familiar with portulaca but purslane is new to me. In our area it is very difficult to find the type and/or color of portulaca that I like - so thought I might try growing from them seeds this spring. Those of you are acquainted with both portulaca and purslane, which is your choice and why?

Is growing portulaca and purslane difficult from seeds?
Looking at some nice portulaca at Swallowtail that appeal to me. Anyone know of any other vendors carrying these seeds?

Any advice and information is welcome. Thanks in advance.

Don

Hi Don and WELCOME

I have only grown portulaca from seed. I direct sow as the seeds are so tiny and it germinates well and grows well in the hot sun. I love Swallowtail nursery and have gotten seeds from them. I buy portulaca seed sort of everywhere. At the local box stores, from places like Swallowtail, etc. It always does really well for me.

I have never seen purslane seed. Only the plant and Lowes starts carrying here I "think" late April or into May..

I have no preference but for those like Becky that lives in AZ, she can pretty much keep purslane alive year round. Purslane is beautiful in hanging baskets for the way it grows.

I'll see if I can find some of my photo's for you.

Terrible photo but Picasa crashed on me and I'm still trying to figure out photo's from backups

The flowers in the foreground are all portulaca grown from seed.

Somewhere I have closeups of the blooms but I can't find them.

Vicki,

Thanks for your quick response! A native of NW Penna, we lived in Charlotte for twenty years - just returning to PA about 4 years ago.

Think I will go with Swallowtail's Happy Hour Deep Red - a double which I prefer. Also liked some of their other ones too, but can't buy everything I see - just don't the energy and gardening space that I used to have. Will let you know how I make out with my first attempt of trying portulaca seeds.

Don

Please do post photo's

Our oldest daughter lives in Allentown but they are building a home in New Tripoli and should be in by summer. PA is a beautiful state.

By Portulaca, I think you are referring to P. grandiflora, AKA moss roses. Seeds for these are usually readily available. Do not cover seeds. Needs temps consistently above 70°F to germinate.

Purslane is also Portulaca, P. oleracea. Never noticed seeds for sale but I wasn't looking.

Stores also sell Portulaca umbraticola as ornamental purslane or the other moss roses but I've not seen seeds for those. Not necessarily looking, but would have bought if found. (I only buy seeds in person.)

Hi Don,


I've saved purslane seeds and tried growing them but to no avail.

Oops. I guess I should have posted my earlier message here.

You can find ornamental purslane seeds online. Just google "purslane hot toucan mix" and you can find them. They sprout easily for me.

And you can also find the ones used for salad greens online as well. Those are very common, but they either have tiny yellow flowers, or they have larger yellow flowers that close up within a few hours after first blooming.

My favorite one is the wild kind with the tiny yellow flowers. They are very strong and vigorous plants, and they taste very sour, sort of like citrus.

Here's how fast the wild ones grow from seed. (I save seeds from them and use them instead of buying new seeds.)

Last year I grew P. grandiflora 'sundial mango' from seed purchased at sunshineflowerseeds.com. I started them indoors. They stayed very small for me until I planted the tiny things out, then they went gang busters. By the end of the season they have spread about 18" and gave me lots of color. I chose to grow from seed because I can only find the mixed colors locally.

I'd post a photo of them skirting a bed, but I can't find it right now.