🌿🌱 The Best 20 Varieties of Purslane to Grow: Tips, Facts, and Information
🌿 Introduction: Why Grow Purslane?
Purslane is one of the most underrated plants you can grow. Often mistaken for a weed, it’s actually:
✔ highly nutritious
✔ drought-tolerant
✔ fast-growing
✔ edible and ornamental
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Purslane thrives in poor soil, hot weather, and containers, making it ideal for UK gardeners, allotments, and low-maintenance gardens.
Below is a guide to the 20 best varieties of purslane, plus growing tips and key facts to help you choose the right type.
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🌱🧠 1. What Is Purslane?
Purslane (Portulaca oleracea and Portulaca grandiflora) is a succulent annual plant grown for:
✔ edible leaves and stems
✔ ground cover
✔ colourful flowers
There are edible varieties and ornamental flowering varieties, both easy to grow.
🌿🥗 2. Best Edible Purslane Varieties
These are grown mainly for eating.
1. Common Green Purslane
Classic edible variety with fleshy green leaves.
2. Golden Purslane
Yellow-green leaves with a mild, lemony flavour.
3. Broadleaf Purslane
Large leaves, ideal for salads and stir-fries.
4. Upright Purslane
Less sprawling, easier to harvest.
5. Red-Stemmed Purslane
Attractive reddish stems with strong flavour.
6. Dutch Purslane
Bred for cultivation rather than wild growth.
7. Greek Purslane
Popular in Mediterranean cooking.
8. Winter Purslane (Claytonia)
Not true purslane, but used similarly for salads.
🌸🌈 3. Best Ornamental Purslane Varieties
These are grown for colour and ground cover.
9. Moss Rose (Portulaca grandiflora)
Bright, rose-like flowers in many colours.
10. Double Flowered Portulaca
Layered petals with intense colour.
11. Happy Hour Mix
Large blooms that open fully in sun.
12. Sundial Series
Compact plants with excellent heat tolerance.
13. Margarita Series
Extra-large flowers in vivid shades.
14. Tequila Series
Bold colours and vigorous growth.
15. Cupcake Series
Rounded, cushion-like growth habit.
16. Rio Series
Trailing variety, perfect for hanging baskets.
🌿🌱 4. Low-Growing & Ground Cover Varieties
Great for borders and containers.
17. Wild Purslane
Self-seeds easily and thrives in poor soil.
18. Prostrate Purslane
Spreads quickly, excellent living mulch.
19. Trailing Portulaca
Ideal for baskets and edging.
20. Mixed Portulaca Seed Strains
Perfect if you want variety and colour.
🌱🌞 5. How to Grow Purslane Successfully
Purslane thrives on neglect.
✔ full sun is essential
✔ free-draining soil
✔ minimal watering once established
✔ sow after frost risk has passed
It performs best in hot, dry summers.
💧⚠️ 6. Common Growing Mistakes
❌ overwatering
❌ heavy, wet soil
❌ too much shade
❌ overfeeding
Poor soil actually improves growth and flavour.
🥗🌿 7. How to Use Edible Purslane
Edible purslane is:
✔ rich in omega-3 fatty acids
✔ high in vitamins A and C
Use it:
✔ raw in salads
✔ cooked like spinach
✔ in soups and stir-fries
✔ as a garnish
Leaves have a slightly sour, crunchy taste.
🌸🌱 8. Purslane in Containers and Small Spaces
✔ thrives in pots
✔ ideal for windowsills and balconies
✔ perfect for raised beds
✔ tolerates drought well
One plant can cover a surprising area.
🌱⚠️ 9. Is Purslane Invasive?
Purslane self-seeds readily.
✔ easy to control
✔ pull up unwanted plants easily
✔ best grown in containers if concerned
Harvesting regularly keeps it in check.
🌟 FAQs
Is purslane a weed or a vegetable?
Both — but cultivated varieties are grown intentionally.
Can you grow purslane in the UK?
Yes — especially in summer and under cover early.
Does purslane come back every year?
It’s an annual but self-seeds readily.
Is ornamental purslane edible?
No — only Portulaca oleracea varieties are edible.
Is purslane good for pollinators?
Yes — flowering varieties attract bees.