Portulaca, a simply magnificent succulent

Portulaca is an annual flowering succulent that is simply beautiful.

A Portrait of Portulaca facts

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 – June to October

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

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.

• Portulaca requires sun to flower correctly.
• Adding a little bit of flower plant fertilizer will help enhance blooming.

Sowing portulaca

If you want to witness its blooming in spring, you must start sowing in a sheltered place at the end of winter.

• Proceed to sow in a sheltered place in February-March or sow directly in the plot in March and April for areas with very mild climate.
• Thin to 6 inches (15 cm).
• Transplant in the ground when the last frosts are past.

Pruning and caring for portulaca

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.

Learn more about portulaca

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).