Common Purslane
Portulaca oleracea
Also listed as Portulaca hortensis, Portulaca officinarum
Also known as Purslane, Garden Purslane, Pigweed
Climate Match for your location
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A low-growing, succulent groundcover with fleshy stems and leaves, producing small yellow flowers in summer. Extremely drought-tolerant and often self-seeding, making it useful as a living mulch or between pavers.
Why grow it
Common purslane establishes faster and requires less maintenance than many ornamental groundcovers in arid and semi-arid settings. Unlike many succulents, it tolerates poor, compacted soils and requires minimal fertilizer or supplemental water once established. Its edible leaves and stems, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, also make it useful as a dual-purpose plant for permaculture systems seeking both ground coverage and food production.
Watch out for
Purslane can spread vigorously in favorable conditions, particularly in regularly irrigated beds, and may compete with slower-establishing plants nearby. Seeds retain viability in soil for extended periods, so managing seed set before plants mature helps prevent volunteer seedlings in subsequent seasons. In humid climates with poor air circulation, stems may rot despite the plant's general drought tolerance.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Portulacaceae
Native Range
Tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, possibly originating in India or Mexico
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A low-growing, succulent groundcover with fleshy stems and leaves, producing small yellow flowers in summer. Extremely drought-tolerant and often self-seeding, making it useful as a living mulch or between pavers.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Common Purslane grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Common purslane establishes faster and requires less maintenance than many ornamental groundcovers in arid and semi-arid settings. Unlike many succulents, it tolerates poor, compacted soils and requires minimal fertilizer or supplemental water once established. Its edible leaves and stems, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, also make it useful as a dual-purpose plant for permaculture systems seeking both ground coverage and food production.
Watch out for
Purslane can spread vigorously in favorable conditions, particularly in regularly irrigated beds, and may compete with slower-establishing plants nearby. Seeds retain viability in soil for extended periods, so managing seed set before plants mature helps prevent volunteer seedlings in subsequent seasons. In humid climates with poor air circulation, stems may rot despite the plant's general drought tolerance.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Portulacaceae
Native Range
Tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, possibly originating in India or Mexico
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
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