How to Care for Portulaca

Portulaca comes in two major types---the flowering "moss rose" villosa type and the edible oleracea version. Both are easy to grow and benefit from the same conditions. Flower growers welcome portulaca villosa because its heat- and drought-tolerance brings color to areas where other flowers struggle. While known more as a weed than a vegetable in American culture, oleracea or "purslane" is a favorite in European and Indian cooking.

Things You'll Need

• Trowel
• Sand and gravel

Instructions

Growing Portulaca Villosa

1. Select a dry, sunny location. Portulaca villosa grows and blooms best under hot, arid conditions---damp soil and cool weather make it droop and can lead to rot. If you have a dry area that soaks up heat, portulaca may flourish where other plants fail. It's a succulent---think cactus with lots of flowers.

2. Keep your soil lean. Drainage is key; if soil is clay-filled or damp, add some sand or gravel to improve drainage. Avoid fertilizer; portulaca tolerates poor soil well, and too much potassium will increase leaves but decrease flowers.

3. Think warmth. In addition to sun- and drought-tolerance, portulaca is a heat-lover. This makes it a great candidate for rock-gardens, the edge of brick walls or clay pots, all of which retain heat when the sun has set. If that wonderful pottery strawberry planter seems to leave other plants dried around the edges, fill it with portulaca villosa and admire.

Growing Portulaca Oleracea

1. Plant this in your vegetable garden or elsewhere for a new and nutritious treat. Most often seen in America as a weed, Portulaca oleracea is cultivated as a salad and cooking green in European gardens. Recently available in seedling form as "purslane," Portulaca oleracea adds a tang and crunchiness to salads and is a piquant steamed accompaniment to fish.

2. Plant purslane seedlings in your vegetable garden, but observe its needs for less fertilizer and water than other spring vegetables. Harvest shoots as needed to prolong plant growth; purslane will remain available for picking after lettuce and spinach have bolted in the heat. Pick shoots or harvest whole plants before yellow flowers bloom to obtain the best taste and texture.

3. Grow purslane for its nutritional value. Its classification "oleracea" refers to its abundant oil, fatty acids and plant-based Vitamin E (alpha-lineolic acid), according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Avoid gathering purslane wild in its preferred weedy locations---the edges of highways---because you may be adding traffic exhaust pollutants to your diet. Planting---or transplanting---it in the dry and problem areas of your vegetable or flower garden is a safer solution.

Tips & Warnings

• Purslane is used in Indian cooking and, whether fresh or steamed, provides a soothing balance to spicy curries. It also makes a great lettuce alternative for fish or poultry salads.

• If wild purslane flourishes in your area, check with your local County Extension Office to make certain you are not adding to an existing invasive-plant problem. Some states or regions, unfortunately, have all the purslane they need.

Resources

• Purslane as a Food Source