Portulaca, Purslanes, Table rose, Pathumani (Moss rose, moss rose purslane, Mexican rose, sun rose, rock rose, table rose)- 30 varietys Combo

Selling size: Combo Pack includes 30 portulaca varietys cuttings

(N.B: Individual Selection is not available)

How to Grow and Care for Moss Rose

Care

Types

Pruning

Propagating

Growing From Seed

Bloom

Frequently Asked Questions

Moss rose plants (Portulaca grandiflora) are popular flowering annuals sold in the spring. If you see leftover moss rose plants on clearance sale in the summer, you might notice the plants are usually just as lovely as they were in the spring, which is a testament to the plant's toughness. The medium green, cylindrical, succulent leaves of moss rose are another clue to the plant's hardiness—namely its tolerance to drought conditions.

Native to South America, these plants grow to be between 3 and 9 inches tall and spread to create a dense mat, making moss rose a good option for a succulent ground cover. The flowers come in several bright colors and often have ruffled petals, looking very similar to miniature roses. The blooms grow in clusters on reddish stems and typically don't open on cloudy days or at night. Moss rose is easy and quick to grow and is best planted in the spring after the danger of frost has passed. Gardeners should carefully consider where they plant moss rose in their landscape, as all parts of the plant are toxic to dogs and cats.1

Common Name

Moss rose, moss rose purslane, Mexican rose, sun rose, rock rose

Botanical Name

Portulaca grandiflora

Family

Portulacaceae

Plant Type

Annual flowering succulent

Mature Size

3–9 in. tall, 6–12 in. wide

Sun Exposure

Full

Soil Type

Sandy, well-drained

Soil pH

Neutral to Acidic

Bloom Time

Early summer to frost

Flower Color

White, orange, yellow, red, pink

Hardiness Zones

2–11, USA

Native Area

South America

Toxicity

Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats

Portulaca, Table rose, Pathumani Care

Moss rose plants are a popular choice for growing in container gardens, along the front edge of garden bed borders, as edging along paved walkways, on top of stone walls, and in rock gardens. In addition, the trailing habit of moss rose works well in hanging baskets. Moreover, moss rose doesn't typically spread outside of its bounds as a ground cover, so it's ideal for small gardens.

These plants will flourish in poor, dry soils where many other plants might struggle—in fact, soil that's too wet can actually kill them. Moss roses typically bloom from summer to the first frost of the fall without any deadheading required. As annuals, the plants will die at the end of the growing season, but they do produce seeds that can potentially germinate and sprout the following year.

Moss roses are not affected by any notable pest or disease problems, though aphids might occasionally bother the plants, especially in the spring.2 With aphids, you might notice a sticky substance on the leaves, as well as yellowing and wilting of the foliage. Spray affected plants with insecticidal soap to treat the problem.

Light

Moss rose plants need six to eight hours of full sunlight on most days to look and bloom their best. If you try to grow them in a shady area, they will fail to produce flowers and the flowers they do have likely won't open.

Soil

These plants thrive in sandy and rocky soil and demand excellent drainage. If your garden bed has clay soil, grow your moss rose in containers rather than try to improve the clay soil drainage. Soil that retains too much water can easily cause the plant to die.

Water

Moss rose plants have low moisture needs, though they aren't quite as drought-tolerant as cacti. The plants will tolerate periods of dryness, but flowering is usually better with some (well-drained) soil moisture. Plan to water the plant if you have a long stretch without rainfall—as a general rule of thumb, one deep watering per week during the hot summer weather should suffice.

Temperature and Humidity

A native of Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, moss roses like high heat and low humidity. It will tolerate cool, moist spring weather as long as it is frost-free. However, the best growth (and blooming) won't occur until the summer heat comes along. Moss roses are frost tender and will die back come winter, likely at the first deep freeze (if not earlier).

Fertilizer

Moss roses can tolerate lean soil, so they typically don't need fertilizer. However, feeding the plant with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the time of planting can help promote healthy growth and profuse flowering. You can also fertilize twice during the plant's growing season, this time using a blend that's high in phosphorous for more bountiful blooms.

Types of Moss Rose

There are several different types of moss rose plants that are popular for landscape gardens. They include:

'Afternoon Delight': A moss rose varietal with 2-inch wide blooms that are open all day until the evening (longer than most other varietals).

'Duet' series: This varietal boasts bicolor flowers in yellow and red or yellow and pink.

'Fairy Tale' series: These varietals (with names such as 'Snow White' and 'Sleeping Beauty') resemble bomb-type peonies, with flowers that have a pom-pom center with flat petals that flare around the edges.

'Sundial' series: A varietal that blooms earlier and tolerates cloudy days and cool weather better than many other varieties.