Edible Purslane in a Pot | Vegetable Plant

Latin name

Purslane

Common name

Purslane

Type

Succulent annual vegetable plant

Family

Purslane family

Edible purslane is a succulent annual plant highly valued for its fleshy, crisp, and slightly tangy leaves. Its fresh, mild, and lemony taste makes it an excellent addition to salads, sandwiches, meal bowls, cold soups, stir-fries, omelets, and summer recipes. With its low, spreading habit, it integrates very well into vegetable gardens, edible containers, planters, and gourmet landscaping where an easy, original, and productive plant is desired.

Easy to grow, edible purslane prefers a warm, sunny location, in light, well-drained, and rather dry to moderately fertile soil. Thanks to its thick leaves that retain water, it tolerates heat and drier periods well, making it an excellent plant for low-maintenance gardens. Regular harvesting of young shoots encourages denser growth and allows for tender foliage throughout the season.

Both decorative, nutritious, and very versatile, edible purslane is ideal for gardeners looking for a resilient edible plant that is different from classic leafy greens. Its leaves and young stems are mainly consumed fresh to retain their crisp texture, but can also be lightly cooked. It is an excellent plant to enrich an urban vegetable garden, a gourmet garden, or container cultivation with a fresh, flavorful, and easy-to-grow harvest.

Care guide

Care level

Easy

Choosing this plant

Main benefit

Rich, crunchy, edible succulent foliage, very heat tolerant

Vegetable patch, container, balcony, edible garden, temporary ground cover, salad

Container growing

Container culture excellent in a well-drained pot

Seasonal care

Harvest young stems and leaves regularly; avoid overwatering; protect from cold and uproot after frost

Growing conditions

Light, soil, water and hardiness

Hardiness zone

Not hardy

Exposure

Sun

Watering

Moderate; allow the soil surface to dry slightly between waterings

Humidity

Low to medium humidity; tolerates drought well

Fertilization

Light compost at sowing; low to moderate fertilization

Soil type

Light soil, poor to fertile, dry to fresh and well-drained

Soil pH

Neutral to slightly alkaline

Minimum temperature

32 °F

Propagation method

Direct sowing or stem cuttings

Blooming period

Summer

Flower color

YELLOW

Fruiting

Fine seeds late in the season

Foliage color

Green

Foliage type

Obsolete

Shape

Low-growing, creeping, and succulent

Height

4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm)

Width

30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 inches)

Growth rate

Rapid growth

Vegetable garden and yield

Companion planting, spacing and harvest

Companion plants

Tomatoes, peppers, basil, lettuces

Spacing

20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 inches)

Harvest period

Leaves and young shoots from spring to autumn

Pets

The availability of our plants varies depending on arrivals, seasons, nursery production and supplier availability. Some varieties may be offered for a limited time only, depending on their natural cycle or current stock. These plant profiles are designed to guide and inspire you when choosing plants for the garden, landscaping projects, containers or long-lasting outdoor arrangements.