General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Cactus/Succulent
Life cycle: Annual
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Dry Mesic
Plant Height: Approx. 1 foot
Plant Spread: Purslane will spread at least 3 feet
Leaves: Other: Thick, succulent
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Yellow
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Summer
Underground structures: Taproot
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Uses: Groundcover
Medicinal Herb
Vegetable
Salad greens
Cooked greens
Edible Parts: Stem
Leaves
Seeds or Nuts
Eating Methods: Raw
Cooked
Dynamic Accumulator: K (Potassium)
Mg (Magnesium)
Mn (Manganese)
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Resistances: Tolerates dry shade
Drought tolerant
Salt tolerant
Propagation: Seeds: Self fertile
Needs specific temperature: 70ºF to 80ºF
Depth to plant seed: Plant on soil surface; keep moist.
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Pollinators: Self
Various insects
Containers: Suitable in 1 gallon
Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots

Image
Common names
  • Common Purslane
  • Purslane
  • Verdolaga
  • Pigweed
  • Wild Portulaca
  • Little Hogweed
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Portulaca oleracea
  • Synonym: Portulaca oleracea subsp. oleracea

Photo Gallery

Date: 2020-05-28

Date: 2020-06-02

photo credit: 6th Happiness
Location: Tampa Bay Area
Date: 2018-04-12
Location: Northeastern, Texas
Date: 2017-07-20
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2013-07-15
Location: Northeastern, Texas
Date: 2012-06-04
Location: Potohar, Pakistan.
Date: 2013-04-27
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2012-05-22
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2012-05-22
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2012-05-22

 Photo Courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Used with permissi
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Tampa Bay Area
Date: 2018-04-12
Location: Fairfax, VA | August, 2022
Date: 2022-08-14
Location: z6a MA, My Garden
Date: 2012-07-23
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2013-07-15
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2013-07-15
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2013-07-15 
Weed that I just pulled from the lawn!
Location: Northeastern, Texas
Date: 2012-06-20
seeds in seed pods
Location: Potohar, Pakistan.
Date: 2013-04-27

credit: Prenn

Photo Courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Used with permissio
  • Uploaded by Joy
This plant is tagged in:
Image Image

Comments:
  • Posted by BlueOddish (South Jordan, Utah, USA - Zone 7a) on Sep 19, 2020 3:45 PM concerning plant:
    The Hopi name for this plant is "Pihála".
  • Posted by Cyclaminist (Minneapolis, Minnesota - Zone 5a) on Aug 15, 2016 6:49 PM concerning plant:
    A nutritious weed: high in vitamin A, vitamin E, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids. It has a slightly sour and salty taste, and the leaves have a slimy texture. It is good chopped up in a salad with feta cheese and diced tomatoes. I discard the older stems, because they're fibrous and tough.
  • Posted by SongofJoy (Clarksville, TN - Zone 6b) on Dec 25, 2012 3:57 PM concerning plant:
    Portulaca oleracea's growing area is the lower 48 states of North America as well as here in Tennessee.
  • Posted by KAMasud (Alpha Centauri - Zone 9a) on May 3, 2013 8:44 PM concerning plant:
    Edible, famine food.
  • Posted by plantladylin (Zone 10a, Florida but soon it will change to zone 8b, Alabama - Zone 10a) on Oct 20, 2011 8:30 PM concerning plant:
    Common Purslane is a herbaceous, sprawling succulent that grows in full sun and produces 1/4 to 1/2 inch yellow flowers. It's an annual weed that grows wild but is also intentionally cultivated around the world for it's edible and medicinal purposes. Here in Florida I sometimes find this weed growing in our lawn and in sandy areas along the edge of the road.

« Add a new plant to the database

« The Plants Database Front Page