Purslane – Not Just a Weed Anymore!

Perhaps it’s because there’s been such a demand for beautiful xeriscaping plants the last few years. Perhaps it’s because more people are interested in growing their own food. Whatever the reason, we’ve got good news – purslane is back, and it’s fantastic!

Purslane (Portulaca oleraceae) is a succulent plant native to the Old World, but it’s been here in the New World for generations. Most people consider it a weed in their gardens, a pesky plant that pokes up through cracks in the sidewalk that must be eradicated. Others, though, have long known that purslane is not only edible, but actually very nutritious. It has more omega-3 fatty acids than any other leafy plant (including spinach!) along with a whole bunch of other good stuff, like Vitamins A and C, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and iron. With such high nutritional value, it’s no surprise that purslane has been an important part of the diet of many people around the world for centuries. Eat it fresh in salads or try one of the recipes found here.

If you’re only interested in eating purslane, then the size and color of the flowers won’t matter much to you. If you’re interested in using it in the landscape, though, you’ll be excited to hear that in recent years, growers have worked to create some truly stunning specimens of purslane with quarter-sized flowers in vivid hues of pinks, yellows, and peaches. A given plant can have hundreds of blooms at a time, creating a mass of eye-catching color. These blooms are popular with pollinators too, especially small bees, and we’ve even spotted a butterfly or two stopping to check them out.

This plant is amazing in dry areas of the garden. Even in Florida’s hot and humid summers, we all have a few places that just don’t get enough water. For us here at BioWorks, it’s “The Wall”, a row of brick cinderblocks along the front of the Flight Encounter building. This soil dries out unbelievably quickly, even after torrential rains, and until now we’ve never had anything able to survive the heat of summer in this space. This year, though, we gave purslane a try… and we LOVE it. The pink is especially nice; it’s a cultivar called Samba Rose, and the splash of yellow in the middle really makes it pop.

Want to give purslane a try? We’re seeing it in nurseries everywhere this year, so it should be easy to find. You can also try starting it from seed - Park Seed carries the Toucan Hot Mix, which looks just gorgeous. Plant it in an area with good drainage, and give it enough water to get established. It would be great in a rock garden, and does well in containers where it can spill over the sides. Be sure to plant it in full to part sun; the flowers won’t open until sun touches their petals, so if you plant it in heavy shade you’ll be disappointed.

  Did we mention that it’s truly outstanding for pollinators? This little green bee didn’t even wait for the flower to fully open in the morning before crawling inside to enjoy!