Portulaca
Portulaca grandiflora
Portulaca blooms from June through September.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Portulaca
Plant it in full sun. It prefers low water. It is hardy in USDA zones 10–11. Expect it to reach about 6 in tall and 12 in wide at maturity, in roughly 1 year.
When to plant Portulaca
Wait until all danger of frost has passed, then plant out Portulaca into warm soil; in most zones that means late spring. Planted then, it flowers from June to September.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 10 in January.
Comes in 5 colors
Same plant, same care - pick the color you are growing.
Good to know about Portulaca
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Safety
ASPCA rates moss rose toxic to dogs, cats and horses; it holds soluble calcium oxalates, so a large amount eaten can upset the gut or, rarely, harm the kidneys. per ASPCA
Worth knowing
Its fleshy leaves and stems store water, so it thrives on heat and drought once established; the flip side is that wet or poorly drained soil rots it fast. per NC State
Flowers that close at night
Classic strains open only in bright sun and shut at night and on cloudy days; newer hybrids stay open all day, so pick those for a longer show. per Wisconsin
First-choice hot-spot annual
A top pick for hot, dry, exposed places where bedding plants scorch: rock and crevice gardens, border fronts, edging, paving edges, and hot containers or baskets. per NC State
No deadheading needed
It is effectively self-cleaning and blooms all summer to frost without deadheading, dropping old flowers as new ones open; deadhead only to curb self-seeding. per NC State
Draws bees and hoverflies
It attracts butterflies plus wild bees, hoverflies and honey bees; a peer-reviewed study found visits swing up to 7-fold by cultivar, tracking nectar and sugar. per NC State and Journal of Economic Entomology
Deer resistant
NC State rates it deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof and hungry deer may still browse it. per NC State
What pairs well with Portulaca
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
False Indigo
Shares full sun and low water; opens in late spring and overlaps into this one's season; stands well above at 3.3 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Fountain Grass
Shares full sun and low water; stands well above at 3.3 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; overlaps, then carries the display into mid fall; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Switchgrass
Shares full sun and low water; stands well above at 4.9 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; overlaps, then carries the display into mid fall; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Rosemary
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in early spring, before this one opens; stands well above at 3.3 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Globe Thistle
Shares full sun and low water; stands well above at 3.3 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; blue against orange, for contrast.
Little Bluestem
Shares full sun and low water; stands well above at 3.3 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; echoes the orange.
Candytuft
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; its white flowers settle the orange.
Boxwood
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; stands well above at 3.9 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
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