The red variety of this plant is beautiful. It reseeds and the color doesn't seem to fade.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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