Gardening Ideas Gardening Flowers Annual Flowers How To Grow And Care For Portulaca Perky portulaca brightens the garden with festive blooms all summer long. By Diana Kirby Diana Kirby Diana Kirby creates inspirational designs for her landscaping firm, Diana's Designs, launched in 2007. For 16 years, she has written for national publications, spoken publicly, consulted, and appeared on television, sharing her extensive knowledge of plants, gardening, design and outdoor living. Her personal gardens have also been featured on television, in print, and in the landscaping book, Deer Resistant Design. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on August 27, 2023 Fact checked by Khara Scheppmann Fact checked by Khara Scheppmann Khara Scheppmann has 12 years of marketing and advertising experience, including proofreading and fact-checking. She previously worked at one of the largest advertising agencies in the southwest. brand's fact checking process In This Article View All In This Article Plant Attributes Care Types of Portulaca Pruning Propagating How to Grow from Seed Overwintering Common Pests and Diseases Common Problems Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Diana Kirby With blooms that mimic sprinkled confetti, Portulaca puts on a garden celebration all summer long. Portulaca grandiflora, which, in Latin means ‘large-flowered,’ adds a profusion of brilliant blooms to any garden. The flowers of Portulaca close at night and reopen the next morning. Its lush succulent leaves and vibrant colors evoke a sense of the tropics. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are attracted to its showy flowers. This low-maintenance xeric plant thrives in even the hottest, driest summers. Stunning in a row of hanging baskets on the porch or spilling over a rock wall or a path, you can plant it and almost forget it thanks to its low water needs. Add this to your landscape and it will be teeming with repeat blooms from spring through fall. Plant Attributes Common Name Moss Rose, Sun Rose Botanical Name Portulaca grandiflora Family Portulcaceae Plant Type Annual Mature Size 6 to 8 in. tall and 12 to 24 in. wide Sun Exposure Full sun Soil Type Sandy or rocky well-draining soil Soil Slightly acidic Bloom Time Summer to first freeze Flower Color white, yellow, orange, coral, fuchsia, pink, red, mixed Hardiness Zones 2-11 (USDA) Native Area South America Care Carefree Portulaca makes an excellent ground covers or hanging basket. With up to a two-foot trailing spread of blooms, the tender foliage adds excellent interest to walls and rocks. Happy to grow out of little cracks, you can tuck a few stems into fossil rock. Light Portulaca thrives in full sun. Given at least 6 to 8 hours of sun, it will bloom prolifically from spring through fall. Soil Perky Portulaca will tolerate a variety of soils; however, good drainage is key to happy plants. In containers, use a well-draining potting mix. In the landscape, amend soil with a little sand or compost to improve drainage. Water With shallow roots and moisture-retaining leaves, it is exceptionally drought-tolerant and only requires watering when top layer of soil has dried out. Temperature and Humidity Summer-loving Portulaca can withstand high heat and dry weather conditions. Fertilize Minimal fertilizer is needed for Portulaca, as it typically withstands neglect. An all-purpose fertilizer can be applied mid-summer to encourage new growth. Types of Portulaca Moss Rose This whimsical variety sports frilly ruffled blooms and an almost fern-like contrasting foliage. Often available in pots planted with multiple colors, including red, orange, coral, yellow, white, and pink. Fairytales Cinderella This striking portulaca features vibrantly contrasting yellow and fuchsia flowers. It sports a unique pom pom-like bloom center and grows 4 to 8 in. tall and 14 to 16 in. wide. Mojave Tangerine Dazzling flowers the color of orange creamsicle dot this compact variety that trails up to 16 inches long. This award-winning variety makes a great addition to hanging baskets and window boxes. Sundance A popular variety, these neon-hot pink blooms draw attention to themselves anywhere they are placed. With particularly large blooms, Sundance grows in an upright and spreading form up to 12 inches tall. Happy Trails Yellow This compact variety of moss rose has bright yellow semi-double, cup-shaped blooms on oblong, pointed leaves. Pruning No pruning is required for Portulaca to grow and bloom profusely. However, if you want to shape or contain the plant, you can prune as much as you like. While spent blooms fall off, you can easily pinch them back to encourage new ones or to prevent them from spreading seed. Propagating Cuttings of 2 to 3 inches can be planted to propagate new plants. Remove any spent blooms or buds. Dip the cut end into rooting hormone and place into moist soil. Water enough to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged until the plant has rooted. Once new growth is visible, cut back to regular watering. How to Grow from Seed Outdoors, seeds can be started in the landscape after the last frost. Press into moist soil and keep lightly moist until growth is visible. Sow seeds inside in a sterile seed-starting mix inside 6 -8 weeks before the last frost. Moisten the soil and press gently into the soil. Seeds do not need to be covered with soil. Keep moist and place where seedlings will get bright light. After the danger of frost has passed, transplant it into a larger container or directly into the garden. Overwintering Portulaca are annuals, growing, flowering and setting seed in only one growing season. They are not overwintered; simply plant new ones the following spring. Common Pests and Diseases There are no pests or diseases specifically known to trouble Portulaca. In poor conditions, the plant can be subject to common pests like thrips, aphids, mealybugs, or spider mites. You can spray water on the plant to dislodge pests or spray with insecticidal soap. Overwatering or poorly drained soil can lead to root rot, powdery mildew, or a gray mold called botrytis. Portulaca is susceptible to these or other fungal issues if conditions are too moist or they are planted in areas with poor air circulation. Diseased sections should be removed and disposed of. Water early in the day to allow soil to dry out before cooler evening temperatures. Common Problems There are no known issues specific to Portulaca. In hot summers, be aware that small animals like birds, squirrels or chipmunks may seek out Portulaca to eat because it retains water in its leaves. It is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses and can lead to kidney failure and death. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Southern Living is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. Missouri Botanical Garden. Portulaca grandiflora. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Portulaca. 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