Annual
Purslane (trailing)
Portulaca oleracea · Portulacaceae
Also called: Common Purslane, Verdolaga, Pigweed, Ornamental Purslane
Purslane (trailing) (Portulaca oleracea) is a very low-water annual well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It grows to 2-8 in tall, trailing/spreading 12-18 in wide in full sun, with a fast growth rate.
Purslane (trailing) at a glance
- Water use
- Very Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun; flowers and growth are best in bright, hot sun. Ornamental forms bloom only in good sun.
- Mature size
- 2-8 in tall, trailing/spreading 12-18 in wide
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Bloom
- Yellow (wild type); ornamental cultivars in pink, orange, red, magenta, white, cream, Late spring through fall; small flowers (ornamental cultivars showier) open in midday sun through the hot season.
- Cold hardiness
- Frost-sensitive (USDA 9a-9b); a tender, heat-loving warm-season annual. The wild form is a vigorous summer weed in Tucson.
- Soil
- Tolerates virtually any well-drained soil including poor, sandy, rocky, and alkaline desert soils. Fast drainage prevents rot.
- Native range
- Old World (likely originating in India/Middle East); now naturalized worldwide, including as a common weed in Arizona
- Best used as
- Edible leafy green (succulent, lemony, high in omega-3s) — verdolaga in Mexican/Sonoran cooking, Trailing color for hanging baskets and containers (ornamental cultivars), Heat-tolerant groundcover, Hot reflected-heat areas
- Wildlife
- Flowers attract bees and small pollinators; seeds are eaten by birds.
- Toxicity
- Edible to humans and a traditional food (verdolaga); however it contains soluble oxalates, so large quantities should be avoided by those prone to kidney stones, and it can cause mild digestive upset/oxalate concerns in pets if eaten in volume. Do not confuse with toxic spurge (Euphorbia) lookalikes, which have milky sap.
How to grow Purslane (trailing) in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Extremely drought- and heat-tolerant succulent; water about once a week once established, less in cooler weather, allowing soil to dry out. Overwatering causes rot. Warm-season annual in Tucson: plant/sow after frost (Apr) into warm soil; thrives through peak summer and monsoon, often appearing on its own as a summer weed after rains.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Minimal needs; essentially no fertilizer required for the wild/edible form. Ornamental container plantings benefit from a light balanced feed.
Pruning & care
Trim trailing stems to shape and keep tidy; pinching encourages branching. For edible use, harvest tender stem tips and leaves.
Notes
Both a popular edible green (verdolaga) and the source of trailing ornamental cultivars; the wild type is one of Tucson's most common summer-monsoon weeds. Distinguish from spotted spurge by snapping a stem: purslane has no milky sap and has thick succulent leaves. Extremely tough in heat and drought.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension (Pima County Master Gardeners; desert weed/vegetable guides); USDA / FoodData Central (edible greens); AMWUA / low-desert horticulture references