Low, crawling stems spread into a mat studded with bright flowers in red, pink, yellow, white and orange all summer. Rose moss (Portulaca grandiflora) is an annual succulent that shrugs off drought and dry spells; give it full sun and free-draining soil and it will flower on into autumn.
| Name | Portulaca grandiflora |
|---|---|
| Family | Portulacaceae |
| Type | annual (succulent) |
| Height | 4 to 8 inches (10 to 15 cm) |
| Exposure | full sun |
| Soil | ordinary, well drained |
| Flowering | early summer to mid-autumn |
Easy to care for and hosting beautiful flowers all summer long, it will decorate the garden and also pot arrangements and garden boxes.
Planting Portulaca is performed preferably in spring for rose moss plants purchased in nursery pots, keeping a 6-inch (15 cm) distance between the bases of each stem.
If you want to witness its blooming in spring, you must start sowing in a sheltered place at the end of winter.
Portulaca can be bought as young plants or raised from seed, either under cover or straight into the ground. The route you choose mainly depends on how mild your climate is.
| Method | When | Spacing | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planting nursery-pot plants | Spring | 6 inches (15 cm) between stems | Quickest route to a flowering mat |
| Sowing under cover | Late winter | Thin to 6 inches (15 cm) | Getting blooms as early as spring |
| Direct sowing in the plot | Early to mid-spring | Thin to 6 inches (15 cm) | Areas with a very mild climate |
| Transplanting seedlings out | Late spring, once frosts have passed | 6 inches (15 cm) between stems | Seedlings raised in a sheltered place |
Whichever method you use, a spot in full sun is what decides how freely the plants flower.
Remove wilted flowers regularly (deadheading) in order to boost flower-bearing.
Regular watering is advised for Portulaca planted in pots, garden boxes and hanging suspensions.
This very beautiful annual flower, crawling along and spreading out, blooms beautifully with varied and bright colors that range from red to pink and include yellow, white and orange. It’s also called rose moss.
Easy to care for, portulaca 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.
Very vulnerable to low temperatures, it won’t survive below 40°F (5°C).
No need to water portulaca when planted in the ground, even in hot weather.
