Low, crawling stems spread into a mat studded with silky flowers in bright, varied colours, the whole thing never more than four to eight inches high. Rose moss (Portulaca grandiflora) is the answer to a hot, dry corner: give it full sun and well-drained soil and it asks for almost no water in return.
| Name | Portulaca grandiflora |
|---|---|
| Family | Portulacaceae |
| Type | annual |
| Height | 4 to 8 inches (10 to 15 cm) |
| Exposure | full sun |
| Soil | ordinary, well drained |
| Flowering | early summer to mid-autumn |
Blooming all summer long and easygoing, it knows how to decorate your garden as well as your pot arrangements and garden boxes.
Preferably in spring for rose moss plants purchased in nursery pots, spacing plants 32 inches (15 cm) apart.
For the sowing, sowing in a sheltered place in February-March or sow directly in the plot in March and April. Thin to 6 inches (15 cm).
Rose moss can be bought as young plants or raised from seed, either under cover or straight in the ground. The route you choose mainly changes when you start and how you space the plants.
| Method | When | Spacing |
|---|---|---|
| Plants bought in nursery pots | spring | 15 cm (6 in) apart |
| Sowing in a sheltered place | late winter to early spring | thin to 15 cm (6 in) |
| Direct sowing in the plot | early to mid-spring | thin to 15 cm (6 in) |
Whichever method you use, the plants go on to flower from early summer right through to mid-autumn.
Remove wilted flowers.
This very beautiful annual, that crawls along and spreads out, blooms beautifully with varied and bright colors.
Easy to care for, rose moss only requires very little water and even resists droughts and dry spells.
It will be perfect for your rock gardens, along stone walls, and also in garden boxes, pot arrangements and suspended plants.
No need to water, even in hot weather.
