Purslane florets: tips for planting & caring for

Many people only know purslane as a vegetable, not as a flower. Here you can find out how to properly plant and care for purslane florets in your own garden.

Of course they belong Vegetable purslane (Portulaca oleracea) and the purslane rose (Portulaca grandiflora) to the same genus (Portulaca), but they are grown and used differently. While the vegetable purslane is used for consumption, the purslane rose is an ornamental plant. It is a beautiful flower that blooms in bright, bright colors on the bed, balcony or terrace. The purslane rose is an attractive summer plant with which little can be done wrong. In our article, we'll tell you everything you need to know about purslane florets: from its origins to planting and care.

Vegetable purslane is back in fashion right now and is valued as a nutritious green vegetable. But the purslane florets related to it should not be underestimated. These come from the genus purslane and from the purslane family (

Portulacaceae). There are around 100 species of the beautiful flower worldwide, but only two are found in Europe. With bright, strong colors such as orange, pink, yellow and red or brilliant white and even in pale pink The flowers of the purslane rose offer a wide range of pastel shades and ensure that they are colorful everywhere Accents. What is special is the extraordinarily long flowering time of the plant: you can admire the motley flowers from June and even into October. And the beautiful flowers are not only easy to grow in the bed - they also feel good in pots, so that people without a garden can also enjoy this plant. In a sunny spot, the flower adorns balconies or terraces - but only when the sun is shining. The purslane florets do not open their flowers on dull and cloudy days. Although closely related to the vegetable purslane, the purslane florets are not edible. The flowers and leaves are not poisonous, but consumption is not recommended.

Origin and characteristics of purslane florets

Originally comes from Portulaca grandiflora from South America: In Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina it feels at home on sandy soils. However, it can thrive well in all countries with a frost-free climate and is also found wild there. In the early 19th The flower first came to England in the 19th century, from where it began its triumphal march to almost every continent. Today it is a popular summer plant - not only here, but all over the world.

Purslane florets are annual or weakly persistent succulent or semi-succulent plants. They are only about fifteen centimeters high and usually grow strongly in width. When spread out, the leaves are 20 to 25 millimeters long, two to three millimeters wide and almost round. Numerous woolly, whitish hairs can be found in the leaf axils, but they are shorter than the leaves. The inflorescences are surrounded by eight to ten leaves. The flowers can reach a diameter of up to four centimeters. These can be filled as well as unfilled. From this, four to six millimeters large, tearing fruits develop, in which there are very small black seeds.

Buying purslane florets: what to keep in mind

Purslane florets are wonderfully suitable for gardening beginners and people without green fingers. They are easy to care for and actually indestructible. As annual plants, however, they have to be replanted every year. If you don't want to do the work of self-growing, you can simply buy pre-grown plants in stores. From spring these can be found inexpensively in garden centers, nurseries and also on the Internet. The choice of variety plays a role when buying, as this determines the growth and flower color of the plants. We have put together a small overview of recommended varieties for you below.

Recommended purslane florets:

• ˈBicolorˈ: This variety blooms in two colors, yellow and pink. She especially likes it sunny and hot
• "Carnaval": The flowers of this variety are as colorful as the costumes at carnival; they can be yellow, orange, red, or pink
• "Sundial Chiffon": This variety is characterized by a particularly early flowering; it blooms as early as June with pink-red, semi-double flowers
• "Stopwatch Cream": The flowers of this variety are cream-colored with a pink center
• "Sundial Gold": This variety is ideally suited as a ground cover because it is densely branched; the flowers are ruffled and golden-yellow

When buying, it is also important to ensure that the plant is healthy and strong. The leaves should be intact when purchased and appear strong and green. In addition, the plant should be free from pests or diseases.

What is important when buying purslane florets?

• Variety choice
• Vital plant
• Undamaged leaves
• Rich green color
• No diseases or pests

What to look for when Buying purslane should pay attention in general, you can find out here in our special article on the subject.

Planting purslane florets: location and features

In sunny and warm locations, the purslane rose can show what color it is. In partial shade, the flower loses many blossoms and just doesn't feel that well. The soil or substrate for the florets should be lean and sandy. In the garden as well as in the pot, you can mix soil that is too heavy with sand to make the flower as comfortable as possible.

Location requirements of purslane florets:

• As sunny as possible
• As warm as possible
• Lean, light and sandy soil

As soon as the ice saints have passed in mid-May, the purslane florets can be planted. Prepare the bed by loosening the soil well and removing stones and weeds. If the soil is too heavy, mix in sand as well. For planting in the pot, create a drainage layer with potsherds or gravel. Potting soil is suitable as a substrate - for example peat-free Plantura organic potting soil - which you mix to a fifth with sand or fine gravel. Now dig small holes in the bed or in the pot at a distance of 10 to 20 centimeters. You place the plants in here - but only as deep as they were in the nursery pot before. Now everything is poured on well and kept well moist in the following days. After a week, gradually reduce the amount of water you give.

Step-by-step instructions for planting purslane florets:

• Prepare the bed: loosen and remove weeds
• Prepare the pot: create a drainage layer
• Mix soil or substrate with sand
• Dig small planting holes
• Plant spacing: 10 - 20 cm
• Planting depth: Not deeper than in the nursery pot
• Pouring on
• Gradually reduce watering after a week

Tip: Good partners for purslane florets with similar demands on sun, water and nutrients are the ice plant (Dorotheanthus) or the midday gold (Gazania).

Maintain purslane florets

Once the purslane rose has been planted and he likes it in its location, it is particularly noticeable because of its bloom and not because of the time-consuming care it takes. Nevertheless, you should keep an eye on watering, mulching and fertilizing so that you can enjoy the beautiful bloom for as long as possible.

As a succulent plant, the rose needs little water, even longer periods of drought do not bother it. On the contrary - giving too much water is well-intentioned, but is more likely to cause damage. In the bed, you actually only have to water the flower in extremely dry periods. Otherwise you can do without water. The pot is only watered when the top layer of the substrate has dried off. Check with your finger whether the plant really needs water.

Also as far as the fertilizer is concerned, like it Portulaca grandiflora rather spartan. After planting, put a thin layer of mulch made of compost around the plants in the bed and they don't need to be fertilized for the whole summer. Alternatively, you can also use a one-time fertilizer with an organic long-term effect - like ours Plantura organic flower fertilizer - use. In the pot, the Röschen is also happy to be an environmentally and resource-saving organic fertilizer with organic long-term effects. This only needs to be administered every two months and is gentle on people, animals and nature. If you also consistently and regularly pluck all withered flowers, nothing stands in the way of lush and long flowering in your garden or on your balcony.

How are purslane florets cared for?

• Water in the bed only when it is extremely dry
• Pour in the pot when the top layer of substrate has dried
• After planting, apply a thin layer of compost as mulch in the bed
• Alternatively, a single application of fertilizer with long-term organic effects
• Succulent fertilizer in a pot every 5 - 6 weeks
• Alternatively, fertilizer with organic long-term effect every 2 months
• Pluck off dead flowers

Just can't get enough of purslane florets? Then you are sure to like that too Vegetable purslane. You can read all about the trend vegetables here.