Amongst the many good summer flowering bedding plants that take the heat and bloom all summer is the Portulaca genus that includes both the familiar purslane and another species commonly known as moss rose. I was familiar with moss rose from childhood and always started some from seed each spring. Let’s take a closer look at moss rose and how it will be your choice for the summer of 2026.
While I do like and appreciate ornamental purslane, moss rose has a different texture and appearance that is very appealing. Moss rose is very heat and drought tolerant preadapted from its origins in the drier parts of Argentina, southern Brazil, and Uruguay. Each plant grows to be about one-foot wide but barely eight-inches tall. This makes moss rose an ideal groundcover in full sun sites with well-drained soil. In fact, the small chubby needle-like leaves are very succulent in nature. This foliage is a great backdrop to display the bright fluorescent flowers which remind you of a cactus flower. Ranging from one to three-inches wide, the flowers are either arranged in a single layer of five petals, semi-double, or double blooms in bright shades of pink, peach, yellow, orange, red, fuchsia, magenta, lavender, and purple. While mixed colors are often the most satisfying, you can obtain selected cultivars including the ‘Sundial’ series with double flowers in nine colors including ‘Fuchsia’, ‘Peppermint’ and ‘Mango’ (orange). The ‘Sundance’ series offers semi-double flowers that are noted to remain open most of the day. There are many other improved cultivars to select from – check your local seed rack or on-line mail order sources.
Moss rose can be used in a mass planting to serve as a groundcover, in a container, or simply in a hanging basket. They also look great in rock gardens or spilling over a wall or large rustic pots.
Moss rose is treated like an annual and can be easily started from seed directly sown into the bed or started earlier in pots and installed as transplants for the summer. Seedlings in flower beds will need to be thinned to allow for enough room for the remaining individuals. After flowering, the resulting tiny seeds produced can drop to the ground may sprout next year as volunteers but are not an invasive problem species according to the UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas.
The main pest I have noticed is an occasional mealybug infestation which can be suppressed with insecticidal soap applied as per label directions. While certain types of purslanes (Portulaca oleracea) are cultivated as a vegetable, please keep in mind that moss rose (Portulaca grandiflora) is not edible, and is reportedly toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
Success with moss rose comes easy. Let’s make this great summer blooming annual your plant of choice for heat-tolerance and dependable flowering. For more information on types of summer flowering bedding plants suitable for our area, or to ask a question, please visit https://www.facebook.com/CharlotteCountyExtension. You can also call the Master Gardener Volunteer Helpdesk on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1 to 4 pm at 764-4340 for gardening help and insight into their role as an Extension volunteer. Ralph E. Mitchell is the Director/Horticulture Agent for UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County. He can be reached at 941-764-4344 or ralph.mitchell@charlottecountyfl.gov. Connect with us on social media. Like us on Facebook @CharlotteCountyExtension and follow us on Instagram @ifascharco.
Resources:
Mahr, S. (2025) Moss Rose, Portulaca grandiflora. Wisconsin Horticulture – Division of Extension.
North Carolina Plant Toolbox Extension Gardener (2026) Portulaca grandiflora. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/portulaca-grandiflora/ .
Wikipedia (2026) Portulaca grandiflora https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portulaca_grandiflora .
Stallsmith, A. (2024) In Pursuit of Purslanes and Portulacas. https://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/in-pursuit-of-purslanes-and-portulacas/
ASPCA Poison Control – Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants (2026) Portulaca. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/portulaca .
UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas. (2026). The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
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