Portulaca is a genus of annual flowering plants containing 153 species in the purslane family. The various species are native to countries throughout the world, across the southern hemisphere and north to middle America and western Europe. It has a shrubby habit, succulent leaves and colorful, showy flowers, and grows well in containers or as a houseplant. The roots can be tuberous, fleshy, fibrous, or small taproots depending on the species. The genus name comes from the Latin for little door, in reference to the lid of the seed capsule. This plant does best in full sun or bright direct light. It tolerates poor to average soils as long as it is dry to moderately moist and well-drained. It is drought tolerant and does well in heat and humidity. Sow seed directly in the garden after last frost date, or start indoors 6 to 8 weeks before that date. Set out seedlings and purchased plants at last frost date. The plants may self-seed, but you can remove the spent blooms if growing outside to prevent self-seeding. Quick ID: Procumbent or decumbent stems Thin, fleshy leaves about 1 inch in length Leaves cluster at stem tips and joints Heart-shaped petals that close at night or cloudy days VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti," a plant identification course created in partnership with Longwood Gardens. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known insect or disease problems. Aphids can be an issue and crown rot may occur in poorly-drained soils.
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
Clay; Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Mounding; Spreading
Leaf color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Fleshy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are sessile, having no petiole, and tend to cluster at the stem tips and joints. They may take on a reddish tinge if grown in direct sunlight. Species are usually alternate, congested, and the leaf blade can be terete, subterete, or flattened.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Pink; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower shape
Saucer
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Flowers have heart-shaped petals and usually five per flower, though double-flowered cultivars and hybrids exist. They are usually one inch across and come in ranges of yellow, orange, red, pink, and white. They close at night and on cloudy days. The blooms may be terminal in clusters, or axillary on short branches.
Fruit color
Black
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
A capsule containing many tiny seeds.
Stem detail
Depending on the species, the stems can be erect to prostrate, branched, fleshy or suffrutescent. A trichomes in inflorescence or stem nodes may be absent or present, glabrous otherwise.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Southern hemisphere, southern United States and Europe.