Greetings from the world of plants! We are Portulaca, often called Moss Rose or Purslane. We are perfectly engineered by nature to thrive in the very conditions you describe—dry, sunny areas. Using us as a ground cover is a fantastic choice, and from our perspective, here is how to ensure we form a vibrant, living carpet for your garden.
First, you must understand what makes us so uniquely qualified. Our stems and leaves are succulent, meaning they are thick and fleshy. This is not just for show; it is our built-in water reservoir. We store moisture in these tissues, allowing us to endure long periods of drought with a smile. Our small, needle-like leaves also minimize surface area, reducing water loss through transpiration. We are sun-worshippers, our flowers opening wide to bask in the full glory of the sun and closing as it sets or on cloudy days.
For us to truly flourish and spread as a ground cover, we demand full sun. Please choose a spot that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight daily. While we are adaptable to poor soils, we absolutely require one thing: excellent drainage. Soggy, waterlogged soil is our greatest enemy and will lead to root rot. To prepare the bed, simply loosen the top 6-8 inches of soil. If your native soil is heavy clay, amending it with sand, gravel, or a small amount of compost will dramatically improve drainage and make us very happy. A slightly sandy, gritty soil is our idea of paradise.
You can start us from seeds or purchase young plants (plugs). If planting plugs, space us approximately 6 to 12 inches apart. This might look sparse initially, but please be patient! Our growth habit is low and spreading. We will quickly fill in the gaps between plants by trailing along the ground and rooting at our nodes (the points on our stems where leaves grow). This natural stoloniferous habit is what allows us to form a dense mat that suppresses weeds. Water us thoroughly immediately after planting to help settle our roots into their new home.
Once we are established, which typically takes a few weeks, we require minimal care. Our water needs are very low. Please water us only when the soil is completely dry. A deep, infrequent soaking is far better than frequent light sprinklings, as it encourages our roots to grow deeper. We are not heavy feeders; in fact, too much fertilizer, especially nitrogen, will encourage excessive leafy growth at the expense of our beautiful flowers. A light application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at planting time is usually all we need for the entire growing season.
In return for this simple care, we will reward you with a spectacular display of rosette-shaped flowers in a brilliant array of colors—pink, red, yellow, orange, white, and purple—from late spring until the first frost. We are annuals in most climates, meaning we complete our life cycle in one growing season. However, we often self-seed readily, so you may find new volunteer seedlings popping up in the same area the following spring, continuing your beautiful ground cover with minimal effort.
