Common name:Moss Rose, Portulaca
Family: Portulacaceae, Purslane
Height x width: 6" x 6-12"
Growth rate: moderate
Foliage: scattered along stems, terete (cylindrical), 1" long or less, succulent
Flowers: bright colors 1" or more wide, petals notched at end, singles and doubles, close in afternoon
Hardiness: annual
Soil: well-drained, tolerates dry
Light: sun
Pests and problems: few
Landscape habit, uses: hot and dry sites as in rock gardens, along paved surfaces, over walls; border fronts, massing, containers
Other interest: native to South America; name from Latin porto meaning to carry and lac meaning milk, refering to milky sap of some species
Other culture: will not flower well unless proper growing conditions; space 6" apart
Propagation: seed (300,000 per ounce) sown direct or indoors 4-6 weeks before planting out
Species:
grandiflora (gran-di-floor' ah)--main species of commerce
Cultivars: (of grandiflora)
| Cultivars | colors | other |
| 'Afternoon Delight' | bright | double, 2" wide flowers stay open all day |
| 'All Double Mix' | bright | double, 2½" wide flowers |
| 'Calpyso Mix' | bright | double |
| 'Cloudbeater Mix' | mix | double, 2" wide flowers stay open all day |
| 'Double Mix' | bright | mostly double |
| 'Kariba Mix' | bright | 2" wide flowers, double, spreading |
| 'Minilaca Mix' | bright | semidouble, short 2" tall, non-spreading |
| 'Sundance Mix' | 4 colors | mostly double |
| Sundial series | 9 colors | early, colors available separately |
| 'Swanlake' | mix | 2" wide flowers, double |
| 'Wildfire Mix' | 3 colors | early, vigorous, erratic closing, reseeds |
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course | PSS123 course