Purslane Identification and Uses

Common Name(s): Purslane
Latin Name: Portulaca oleracea
Plant Family: Portulacaceae
Size: 6-16”
Edible: Yes
Medicinal: Yes
Where Found: Disturbed ground, open spaces, compacted soil, sandy soil, roadsides, gardens
Flowering Time: Year-round, according to rainfall
Fruit: Seed pods, appearing after blooms
Native: No
Uses: Leaves edible raw or cooked

Description

An annual plant well-known for its edibility, purslane is a common volunteer in gardens. It is capable of handling drought and growing in both loose, sandy soil and compacted clay. Purslane has fleshy leaves which are pleasantly tart and edible raw or cooked. It is generally a creeping plant, but can grow somewhat erect. The flowers are small and bright yellow.

Purslane is the richest plant source of Omega-3 fatty acids and is also rich in antioxidants. Since antiquity, purslane has been used as a medicinal plant, with references in both Roman and Chinese sources. It is also reported that they are so good at breaking the soil with their roots, corn roots will follow after purslane roots deep into the soil, making it a good weed to leave alone in your corn patch (and likely the rest of your garden).

Propagation and Culture

My method of propagating purslane is to dig some garden beds. Purslane almost invariably follows. If you want better luck, however, you can save the seed pods from purslane plants and then crack them over an area where you’d like the plant to grow. Don’t bury them deeply – they are like dust and will not germinate if entombed.

Purslane can be cut multiple times for the table and will regrow. Eventually, the plants give up and die, but usually not before dropping plenty of seeds and ensuring the re-emergence of future purslane plants.