Many people only know purslane as a vegetable, but not as a flower. Here you can find out how to properly plant and care for the purslane rosette in your own garden.
Although the Vegetable purslane (Portulaca oleracea) and the purslane rosette (Portulaca grandiflora) to the same genus (Purslane), but they are cultivated and used differently. While the vegetable purslane is used for consumption, the purslane rosette is an ornamental plant. It is a beautiful flower that blooms in bright, bright colors on the bed, balcony or terrace. The purslane rosette is an attractive summer plant that you can hardly go wrong with. In our article, we tell you everything you need to know about the purslane rosette: from its origin to planting and care.
contents
- Origin and properties of the purslane rosette
- Buy purslane florets: You should pay attention to this
- Plant purslane rosettes: location and special features
- Caring for purslane rosettes
Vegetable purslane is back in fashion and valued as a nutritious green vegetable. However, the related purslane rosettes should not be underestimated. These come from the purslane genus and from the purslane family (Portulacaceae). There are around 100 species of the beautiful flower worldwide, but only two can be found in Europe. With bright, strong colors like orange, pink, yellow and red or bright white and even in soft pink The blossoms of the purslane rose offer a wide range of pastel tones and ensure bright colors everywhere accents. What is special is the extraordinarily long flowering period of the little plant: You can admire the motley flowers from June and even into October. And the beautiful flowers are not only good for growing in beds - they also feel good in pots, so that people without a garden can also enjoy this plant. In a sunny spot, the flower also decorates balconies or terraces - but only when the sun is shining. On cloudy and cloudy days, the purslane rose does not open its flowers. Although closely related to the vegetable purslane, the purslane floret is not edible. Although the flowers and leaves are not poisonous, consumption is not recommended.
Origin and properties of the purslane rosette
Originally originated Portulaca grandiflora from South America: In Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina it feels at home on sandy soils. However, it can thrive in all countries with a frost-free climate and also occurs naturally there. In the early 19th The flower came to England for the first time in the 19th century, from where it began its triumphal march to almost every continent. Today it is a popular summer plant - not only with us, but all over the world.
Purslane florets are annual or slightly perennial succulents or semi-succulent plants. They are only about fifteen centimeters high and usually grow considerably in width. The leaves are spread out 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 either filled or unfilled. This eventually develops four to six millimeters in size, tearing open fruits containing very small black seeds.
Buy purslane florets: You should pay attention to this
Purslane florets are perfect for garden beginners and people without a green thumb. They are easy to care for and actually indestructible. As annual plants, however, they must be replanted every year. If you don't want to do the work of self-cultivation, you can simply buy pre-grown plants in stores. From the spring, these can be found inexpensively in garden centers, nurseries and also on the Internet. When buying, the choice of variety plays a role, 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 rosette varieties:
- ˈbicolorˈ: This variety has two-tone yellow and pink flowers. She likes it particularly sunny and hot
- ˈCarnivalˈ: The flowers of this variety are as colorful as the costumes at carnival; they can be yellow, orange, red or pink
- ˈSundial Chiffonˈ: This variety is characterized by a particularly early flowering; it blooms as early as June with pink, semi-double flowers
- ˈStopwatch Creamˈ: The flowers of this strain are cream-colored with a pink centre
- ˈSundial Goldˈ: This variety is ideal as a groundcover because it branches densely; the flowers are ruffled and golden yellow
When buying it is also important to pay attention to a healthy and strong plant. The leaves should be intact at the time of purchase and appear strong and green. In addition, the plant should be free of pests or diseases.
What is important when buying purslane rosettes?
- strain choice
- vital plant
- Undamaged leaves
- Rich green colour
- No diseases or pests
What are you talking about? Purchase of purslane you should pay attention to in general, you can find out more here in our special article on the subject.
Plant purslane rosettes: location and special features
In sunny and warm locations, the purslane rosette can show its colorful power. In partial shade, the flower loses a lot of flowers and just doesn't feel so good. The soil or substrate for the rosette should be lean and sandy. Both in the garden and in the pot, you can therefore mix heavy soil with sand to make the flower as comfortable as possible.
Location claims of the purslane rose:
- As sunny as possible
- As warm as possible
- Poor, light and sandy soil
As soon as the ice saints have passed in mid-May, the purslane rosette can be planted out. Prepare the bed by loosening the soil and removing stones and weeds. If the soil is too heavy, mix in sand as well. For planting in a pot, create a drainage layer with broken potsherds or gravel. Potting soil is suitable as a substrate – for example the peat-free one Plantura organic potting soil – which you mix to a fifth with sand or fine grit. Now dig small holes in the bed or in the pot at a distance of 10 to 20 centimeters. Put the plants in here - but only as deep as they were in the seed pot before. Now everything is well watered and kept well moist in the following days. After a week, gradually reduce the watering.
Step-by-step instructions for planting purslane rosettes:
- Prepare the bed: loosen and remove weeds
- Prepare the pot: create a drainage layer
- Mix soil or substrate with sand
- Dig small planting holes
- Planting distance: 10 - 20 cm
- Planting depth: No deeper than in the nursery pot
- casting
- Gradually reduce watering after a week
Tip: The ice plant (Dorotheantus) or the midday gold (Gazania).
Caring for purslane rosettes
Once the purslane rose has been planted and it likes its location, it will attract attention with its flowers and not with the time-consuming care. Nevertheless, you should keep an eye on the watering, mulching and fertilizing in order to have something of the beautiful flower for as long as possible.
As a succulent, the floret only needs a little water, and it doesn’t even mind longer stretches of drought. Quite the opposite - too much watering is well intentioned, but more likely to cause damage. In the bed, you only have to water the flowers in extremely dry periods. Otherwise it gets by without water on your part. The pot is only watered when the top layer of the substrate has dried. Check with your finger whether the plant really needs water.
Also as for the fertilizer, likes it Portulaca grandiflora rather spartan. After planting, place a thin layer of compost mulch around the seedlings in the bed and they won't need to be fertilized all summer. Alternatively, you can also use a fertilizer with an organic long-term effect - like ours Plantura organic flower fertilizer - use. In the pot, the rose also enjoys an environmentally friendly and resource-saving organic fertilizer with an organic long-term effect. This only has to be administered every two months and is gentle on people, animals and nature. If you also pluck off all withered flowers consistently and regularly, nothing stands in the way of lush and long flowering in your garden or on your balcony.
How are purslane rosettes cared for?
- Water the bed only in extreme dry periods
- Water in the pot when the top layer of substrate has dried
- Spread a thin layer of compost as mulch in the bed after planting
- Alternatively, a single application of fertilizer with an organic long-term effect
- In the pot every 5 - 6 weeks succulent fertilizer
- Alternatively, fertilizer with organic long-term effect every 2 months
- Pick off faded flowers
You just can't get enough of purslane rosettes? Then you will definitely like this one too Vegetable purslane. You can read everything about the trend vegetables here.
