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Purslanes (Portulaca)
The purslanes (Portulaca) are a group of low-growing, flowering plants in the carnation family. One species, Common Purselane (P. oleracea) is notable for its edibility – its leaves are eaten as salad greens in cultures around the world. Many other purslaness are used ornamentally, being prized for their ability to create drought-hardy, showy-flowered ground cover.
Lifespan
Annual
Plant Type
Herb/Vine
Key Facts About Purslanes
Feedback
Attributes of Purslanes
Leaf type
Semi-evergreen
Ideal Temperature
20 - 38 ℃
Scientific Classification of Purslanes
Phylum
Vascular plants
Class
Dicotyledons
Order
Pinks, cacti, and allies
Family
Purslane
Genus
Purslanes
Distribution of Purslanes
Feedback
Distribution Map of Purslanes
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Purslanes
Feedback
Purslanes, known for its resilient nature, requires basic care including full sunlight, a warm environment, well-draining soil, and a modest water supply. Common Challenges, diverse as the plants themselves, often include pests like nematodes and aphids, or fungus in damp conditions. Seasonally, purslanes excels in summer and tolerates winter when kept dry; watering should be adjusted to the plant's 'dormant' and 'active' periods. While generally hardy, mindful attention to these aspects will ensure purslanes thrives year-round.
How to Water Purslanes?
What Are the Sunlight Requirements for Purslanes?
How to Propagate Purslanes?
How to Plant Purslanes?
Exploring the Purslanes Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
Common purslane
Portulaca oleracea, colloquially known as common purslane, is an annual succulent species with reddish stems and tiny yellow, five-petal flowers. It is used for culinary purposes in various parts of the world, most often raw, in salads. Common purslane is also a good companion plant for crops that thrive in moist soils.
Moss rose
Moss rose is an ornamental flowering semi-succulent plant native to South America. Gardeners can cultivate this easy-to-grow plant in annual flowerbeds, in containers, or in hanging baskets because of its trailing habit. Different cultivars have been selected and propagated for achieving striking variations in color, shape, and petal number of the flowers.
Wingpod purslane
Wingpod purslane (Portulaca umbraticola) is a succulent annual plant or short-lived perennial that will grow to 15 cm tall and 61 cm wide. Its flowers vary in color from orange to red to pink. Flowers attract butterflies, bees and moths. Thrives in full sun with regular moisture and well-drained soil. Trim back when it becomes untidy to encourage new growth and flowers.
Kiss-me-quick
Kiss-me-quick (Portulaca pilosa) is a flowering succulent native to the southern United States, the Caribbean, and Brazil that can tolerate drought, sun, and low-quality soil. Its little flowers only open on sunny mornings. It is often thought of as a weed, but can be used in landscaping to form an attractive groundcover in difficult parts of the yard.
Ihi
The ihi looks like a mini-version of the Breadfruit. Its leaves are large, round, and emerald green all year round. Neatly arranged in layers, the leaves look like green butterflies that are about to flutter their wings and fly away.
Purple rice
Purple rice (Portulaca gilliesii) is a flowering succulent that grows best in full sunlight and sandy soil. Purple rice is often cultivated and collected as an ornamental species. This species does not require regular watering. It grows natively in India and the Middle East.
Portulaca oleracea 'Granatus'
Known as portulaca oleracea 'Granatus'. The small flowers attract bees and butterflies to the garden.
Silkcotton purslane
Silkcotton purslane is a resilient succulent that thrives in arid climates. Its fleshy, needle-like leaves store water, helping it survive in drought-prone areas. The small, star-shaped flowers range from yellow to pink, adding a splash of color to sandy soils. This low-growing plant often forms dense, ground-hugging mats that conserve moisture and resist harsh sunlight.
All Species of Purslanes
Common purslane
Common purslane
Portulaca oleracea, colloquially known as common purslane, is an annual succulent species with reddish stems and tiny yellow, five-petal flowers. It is used for culinary purposes in various parts of the world, most often raw, in salads. Common purslane is also a good companion plant for crops that thrive in moist soils.
Moss rose
Moss rose
Moss rose is an ornamental flowering semi-succulent plant native to South America. Gardeners can cultivate this easy-to-grow plant in annual flowerbeds, in containers, or in hanging baskets because of its trailing habit. Different cultivars have been selected and propagated for achieving striking variations in color, shape, and petal number of the flowers.
Wingpod purslane
Wingpod purslane
Wingpod purslane (Portulaca umbraticola) is a succulent annual plant or short-lived perennial that will grow to 15 cm tall and 61 cm wide. Its flowers vary in color from orange to red to pink. Flowers attract butterflies, bees and moths. Thrives in full sun with regular moisture and well-drained soil. Trim back when it becomes untidy to encourage new growth and flowers.
Kiss-me-quick
Kiss-me-quick
Kiss-me-quick (Portulaca pilosa) is a flowering succulent native to the southern United States, the Caribbean, and Brazil that can tolerate drought, sun, and low-quality soil. Its little flowers only open on sunny mornings. It is often thought of as a weed, but can be used in landscaping to form an attractive groundcover in difficult parts of the yard.
Ihi
Ihi
The ihi looks like a mini-version of the Breadfruit. Its leaves are large, round, and emerald green all year round. Neatly arranged in layers, the leaves look like green butterflies that are about to flutter their wings and fly away.
Purple rice
Purple rice
Purple rice (Portulaca gilliesii) is a flowering succulent that grows best in full sunlight and sandy soil. Purple rice is often cultivated and collected as an ornamental species. This species does not require regular watering. It grows natively in India and the Middle East.
Portulaca oleracea 'Granatus'
Portulaca oleracea 'Granatus'
Known as portulaca oleracea 'Granatus'. The small flowers attract bees and butterflies to the garden.
Silkcotton purslane
Silkcotton purslane
Silkcotton purslane is a resilient succulent that thrives in arid climates. Its fleshy, needle-like leaves store water, helping it survive in drought-prone areas. The small, star-shaped flowers range from yellow to pink, adding a splash of color to sandy soils. This low-growing plant often forms dense, ground-hugging mats that conserve moisture and resist harsh sunlight.
Portulaca kermesina
Portulaca kermesina
Portulaca kermesina is a vibrant, low-growing succulent with fleshy leaves and stems. Its leaves are bright green, and it flourishes in warm, sunny environments, often thriving in drought conditions due to its water-storing capacities. Radiant, small magenta flowers bloom under high light, enhancing its appeal as a groundcover or rock garden feature.
Paraguayan purslane
Paraguayan purslane
Paraguayan purslane is a succulent groundcover species, thriving in hot, arid regions. Its fleshy, oval to spoon-shaped leaves and vibrant, blossoming flowers, which open in sunlight, have adapted to conserve moisture. This resilience, coupled with its sprawling, mat-like growth, makes paraguayan purslane an adaptable plant, often found embellishing rockeries or sandy soils with its colorful, drought-tolerant presence.
Native yellow purslane
Native yellow purslane
Native yellow purslane, with its vibrant yellow blooms, is a succulent groundcover that thrives in sandy soils and intense sunlight. Its fleshy, needle-like leaves retain moisture, allowing it to flourish in arid conditions. The brilliant flowers, which open to greet the morning sun, provide a stark contrast against the plant's green to reddish stems.
More Popular Genus
Feedback
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
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About
Key Facts
Distribution
How To Care
All Species
More Genus
Purslanes
Portulaca
The purslanes (Portulaca) are a group of low-growing, flowering plants in the carnation family. One species, Common Purselane (P. oleracea) is notable for its edibility – its leaves are eaten as salad greens in cultures around the world. Many other purslaness are used ornamentally, being prized for their ability to create drought-hardy, showy-flowered ground cover.
Lifespan
Annual
Plant Type
Herb/Vine
Key Facts About Purslanes
Feedback
Attributes of Purslanes
Leaf type
Semi-evergreen
Ideal Temperature
20 - 38 ℃
Scientific Classification of Purslanes
Phylum
Vascular plants Class
Dicotyledons Order
Pinks, cacti, and allies Family
Purslane Genus
Purslanes Distribution of Purslanes
Feedback
Distribution Map of Purslanes
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Purslanes
Feedback
Purslanes, known for its resilient nature, requires basic care including full sunlight, a warm environment, well-draining soil, and a modest water supply. Common Challenges, diverse as the plants themselves, often include pests like nematodes and aphids, or fungus in damp conditions. Seasonally, purslanes excels in summer and tolerates winter when kept dry; watering should be adjusted to the plant's 'dormant' and 'active' periods. While generally hardy, mindful attention to these aspects will ensure purslanes thrives year-round.
How to Water Purslanes?
What Are the Sunlight Requirements for Purslanes?
How to Propagate Purslanes?
How to Plant Purslanes?
Exploring the Purslanes Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
Common purslane
Portulaca oleracea, colloquially known as common purslane, is an annual succulent species with reddish stems and tiny yellow, five-petal flowers. It is used for culinary purposes in various parts of the world, most often raw, in salads. Common purslane is also a good companion plant for crops that thrive in moist soils.
Moss rose
Moss rose is an ornamental flowering semi-succulent plant native to South America. Gardeners can cultivate this easy-to-grow plant in annual flowerbeds, in containers, or in hanging baskets because of its trailing habit. Different cultivars have been selected and propagated for achieving striking variations in color, shape, and petal number of the flowers.
Wingpod purslane
Wingpod purslane (Portulaca umbraticola) is a succulent annual plant or short-lived perennial that will grow to 15 cm tall and 61 cm wide. Its flowers vary in color from orange to red to pink. Flowers attract butterflies, bees and moths. Thrives in full sun with regular moisture and well-drained soil. Trim back when it becomes untidy to encourage new growth and flowers.
Kiss-me-quick
Kiss-me-quick (Portulaca pilosa) is a flowering succulent native to the southern United States, the Caribbean, and Brazil that can tolerate drought, sun, and low-quality soil. Its little flowers only open on sunny mornings. It is often thought of as a weed, but can be used in landscaping to form an attractive groundcover in difficult parts of the yard.
Show More Species
All Species of Purslanes
More Popular Genus
Feedback
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
Nearly 5 years of research
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
Continue reading in our app - it's better
A database of 400000+ plants
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
