Portulaca grandiflora
Family: Portulacaceae
Moss rose, Perslane, Purslane
Origin: Brazil, Uruguay and northern Argentina
Fleshy stems and leaves, they are one of the very few annual succulents. They tolerate heat and drought, which is a characteristic of their more “native” relative, Portulaca oleracea.The leaves are cylindrical, about an inch long, and pointed on the tips. The roselike flowers are about an inch across and come in bright colors like rose pink, red, yellow, white, and orange. Some are striped or spotted with contrasting colors. Moss rose grows well in poor, sandy or gravelly soils. The soil must be very well-drained. Drought tolerant, but flowers best with regular watering. Don’t water with overhead irrigation, which can damage the flowers. The seeds are very tiny, so mix them with sand before sowing to make them easier to scatter. Seeds can be sown directly outside where they are to grow in the spring after all danger of frost has passed.
