Tropicals – Portulaca

• Portulaca

Botanical name: portulaca oleracea 

Beginner friendly?: no

Average size at maturity: up to a foot in height and in width 

Bloom time:  spring and summer 

Hardy zone: zones 2 – 12

Flower color: yellow, pink, white, orange, red, purple

Foliage color: green. Red, purple

Growth rate: can grow up to a foot in a single growing season 

Pruning instructions:  trim to maintain desired size or shape as needed 

Propagation methods: cut a stem just below a node and place in water until roots start to emerge

Landscape use: can be grown inside as an ornamental potted plant or in the ground as groundcover or to bring some color to your landscape 

Light needs:  at least 6 hours of sunlight a day

Special features:  flowers open in response to sunlight 

Watering instructions:  drought tolerant but not resistant to waterlogging. Water only when the soil has completely dried from the last watering.

Fertilizing instructions : use a water-soluble fertilizer that is balanced in nutrients once in the early spring and once in the late summer

Best time to plant: spring or summer

Best type of soil: loam or sand

Companion plants: zinnias, ice plant, sedum 

Toxicity level: potentially mildly toxic if ingested 

Invasive species: no