When we first started this forum, our minds were on Purslane. Later, we added it's cousin, Portulaca. In case you are unfamiliar with Purslane, her are a few tidbits!

The ornamental variety of purslane is what we are mostly showcasing in this cubit. It's formal name is Portulaca Umbraticola.

The blossoms show off with many colors and the growers keep surprising us with more sizes and styles. There is a double bloom and a striped one that I haven't seen yet. The ornamental purslane is also edible, not quite as tasty, but I add it to salads and salsa and omelets in the summer. It grows rapidly and so, the minute the nurseries in my area offer it for sale, I buy as much as I can and replant it everywhere. It takes off like wildfire in the heat. I love it in hanging baskets. By October (in Phoenix) it's still growing strong. One year I brought two plants indoors in late November and kept them in a sunny window and they bloomed for months!

An ornamental which doesn't care weeds growing around it...

Love it....beautiful golden yellow!

Hello Becky, I have never grown these, but they sure are pretty, so I will look for some when I go out this week-end. Please tell me the difference between purslane and moss roses, or portulaca? Are they one in the same?

Hi Linda,

Purslane is fat leafed and Portulaca has spiny leaves. Purslane usually has 5 petals to a bloom and portulaca has a lot, more like a rose.

I've heard both called Moss Rose and it confuses me so I stay away from that term and look for Purslane or Portulaca.

Thanks for the info! Off this week-end to look for some!

Be sure to post some pictures for us. Lowes in Phoenix usually carries it but also google it for stores that might ship to you!

AHHHHHHHH White Purslane!

Photo courtesy of Park Seed.

That is so pretty. Do these plants have seed heads, or can they be started with cuttings?

It's pretty cool, Linda!

Just clip of a stem from another plant... stick it in some moist dirt, water a little and in a few weeks it takes off!

Once I was at a nursery and there was a wind and rain storm the night before and some purslane stems had broken off. I asked the attendant if I could have them. I planted them immediately and by October, my garden was full of a riot of colors!

Thanks form the info.

Becky

I started mine from seed, however, I keep looking for seedpods where the spent flowers were and there isn't anything there. Am I just too impatient? I want to carry over the seed to next year. I am totally in love with this plant.

Carolyn,

I am SUPER impressed you got them to grow from seed!!! I guess I will try again.

I am ashamed to admit I do not know about the seed pods either. Ask me anything else about purslane and I can tell you! I know it self sows a little because it always came up again in patches when the weather grew warmer. Those seeds are teeny!

So now I wonder if we harvest the day old blooms when they dry up and maybe there is a seed in there! Those seeds are teeny! Maybe I will try that tonight and see what might be there after they dry up.

I did keep a purslane plant in a sunny window one winter. It even bloomed a little in the house. Eventually it stopped blooming...too cold I guess. And I clipped it back to about a1/2 inch from the soil. I watered it every once in a while, just a little. When spring came and the frost was past, I took it back outside and by June it was full and lush!

Becky

I was lucky enough to get seed in a trade. I beleive it was one of Ella's piggy swaps and I just threw it in the hanging basket. Now, I think I would rather have the Purslane in the hanging baskets. It looks nice all the time and doesn't have the same issues that petunias or verbena or the like has...... I really like the vivid colors...

Connie, I love mine in a hanging basket! I have to make a new hook...we had a windstorm and this was swinging wildly so I took it down until I can add a better one.

Carolyn, this link shows the purslane seed of what looks like wild purslane...ornamental seeds are the same. Keep in mind that the close-up photo shows the seeds seem much bigger than they really are. They are tiny, like black grains of sand and start out inside the green capsule! Once the capsule opens, the seeds are released...if you wait too long they'll probably be gone!
http://www.wildmanstevebrill.c...

Linda that was a great read! Thanks so much!

I wonder then if we cut off the little caps, and allow them to dry, will we get the seeds?

There are two purslane recipes on this link as well.

Linda

Thanks! I was reading about this last night and I think that although some of my flowers have died back, I don't think the seed pods have developed enough to give me seeds yet. I should keep an eye on them.

Becky - I am wondering if perhaps your seed might have been older than you thought to have poor germination. Your thoughts?

Carolyn, it could have been... I ordered it from a seed catalog. I'm going to watch mine very carefully too. Maybe seeds next year will germinate!

I like that recipe for potato salad! I use celery and cilantro in potato salad, no pickles because I don't care for them. Purslane would be a great addition!