Water Purslane is a mat-forming, herbaceous perennial, wet area subshrub in the evening primrose family. It is found growing in low water environments such as along small ponds or streams or in muddy areas. It is also used in aquariums. The stems are succulent and often red in color and, when out of the water, spread along the ground up to two feet. In water, the stems seek the surface and the stem tips poke out of the water. The leaves become more red when exposed to sunlight. The inconspicuous flowers occur mid-summer to fall. Water Purslane prefers full sun and wet conditions, either wet muddy ground or clear shallow water a few inches deep. This plant is usually seen near a pond or grown in rain or water gardens. The root system is shallow and fibrous and the plant reproduces by forming rootlets near the axils of the lower leaves. Both in the water and out, roots are continuously forming at the nodes, forming mats. It can be considered weedy but can also be a stabilizing plant on muddy banks, and is used to filter and take in toxins in bioswales and ditches. It is a hardy plant and is widely used in the aquarium trade. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Frequent Standing Water | Occasionally Wet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Horizontal; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Rubbery
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are 1½ inches long and ¾ of an inch across, medium green to dark reddish-green. Each leaf tapers into a short petiole and has a blunt tip.
Flower color
Green
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower shape
Cup; Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
When the stems are above the water, inconspicuous flowers form at the leaf axils from mid-summer to fall. There are no petals. There is only one flower per leaf axil. Each flower has a short tubular calyx with 4 teeth, 4 short stamens, and a very short style above the developing ovary. The petals are absent or very small and insignificant. The calyx is green and glabrous, while its teeth are triangular-ovate.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
The 1/4 inch seed capsule is 4-angled and flat-topped and contains many tiny seeds.
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Stems are succulent and green to bright red, glabrous, and somewhat succulent, prostrate and ascending at the tips.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North America, Mediterranean, Southern Africa.
Distribution
Found in most of the United States.
Wildlife value
It serves as forage for aquatic insects and the flea beetle, Altica litigata. Muskrats eat the foliage.
Attracts
Small Mammals
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves; Stems
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Capsule
Edibility
Leaves and stems are edible either fresh or cooked.