Many 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.
The vegetable purslane (Portulaca oleracea) and the purslane rosette (Portulaca grandiflora) belong to the same genus ( Portulaca), 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 rose: from its origin to planting and care.
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 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 such as orange, pink, yellow and red or radiant white and even in soft pink pastel tones, the flowers of the purslane rose offer a wide range and provide colorful accents everywhere. 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 can not only be grown 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 Portulaca grandiflora comes from South America: It feels at home on sandy soils in Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina. However, it can thrive in all countries with a frost-free climate and also occurs naturally there. The flower first came to England in the early 19th century, from where it then 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 annuals or weakly perennial succulent 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 into four to six millimeter large, tearing fruits containing very small black seeds.
Buy purslane rosettes: you should pay attention to this
Purslane rosettes 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 varieties of purslane rosettes:
- ˈBicolorˈ: This variety has bicolored flowers in yellow and pink. She likes it especially sunny and hot
- ˈCarnavalˈ: The flowers of this variety are as colorful as the costumes at the carnival; they can be yellow, orange, red or pink
- ˈSundial Chiffonˈ: This variety is characterized by a particularly early flowering; it blooms from June with pink, semi-double flowers
- ˈStopwatch Creamˈ: The flowers of this variety are cream-colored with a pink centre
- ˈSundial Goldˈ: This variety is ideal as a ground cover because it branches densely; theFlowers are ruffled and golden yellow
When buying, it is also important to pay attention to a he althy 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 from pests or diseases.
What is important when buying purslane rosettes?
- Selection
- Vital Plant
- Undamaged Leaves
- Rich green color
- No diseases or pests
You can find out what you should generally look out for when buying purslane here in our special article on the subject.
Planting 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. You can therefore mix soil that is too heavy with sand, both in the garden and in the pot, to make the flower as comfortable as possible.
Location Claims of Purslane:
- 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 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 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 watering.
Step-by-step instructions for planting purslane rosettes:
- Prepare 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 seed pot
- Cast on
- Reduce watering gradually after a week
Tip: Good partners for the purslane rosette with similar demands on sun, water and nutrients are the ice plant (Dorotheanthus) or the midday gold (Gazania).
Caring for Purslane Roses
Once the purslane 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 some of the beautiful flowers for as long as possible.
As a succulent, the floret only needs a little water, and it doesn't mind long stretches of drought. Quite the opposite - too much watering is well intentioned, but it is 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. Use your finger to check if the plant really needs water.
As far as the fertilizer is concerned, Portulaca grandiflora likes it 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 - such as our Plantura organic flower fertilizer - once. 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?
- Only water beds in extremely dry conditions
- Water in the pot when the top layer of substrate has dried
- Place a thin layer of compost as mulch in the bed after planting
- Alternatively, one-off application of fertilizer with organic long-term effect
- In the pot every 5 - 6 weeks Succulent fertilizer
- Alternatively every 2 months fertilizer with organic long-term effect
- Pluck withered flowers
You just can't get enough of purslane roses? Then you will definitely like the vegetable purslane. You can find out everything about the trend vegetables hereread.