I have the purple samba portulaca planted at the coast this will be their 3rd year, they come back each year, I started out with 4 hanging baskets, that I got a Lowes 3 years ago. I also gave some as birthday gifts. I fell in love with the large pink flowers. I do cover them with mulch in the winter to protect them. I almost lost all of them last July when we had all the rain, they rotted. I also lost every rosemary plant I had. Barbra,

I love my Portulaca. I get the multicolored blooming one for here in Dallas and it loves the heat. If I forget to water it, it will wilt after a few days but I throw some water on it and it bounces right back. Not only is it hardy but I put mine in a hanging basket on the fence and it came back the next year in the basket AND in the planter underneath. It definitely reseeds itself.

Rock rose looks similar to Portulaca but I haven't had the same luck when I tried it once, so beware. Good luck!

It sounds like the Samba portulaca is a tender perennial. The coast has warmer winters and my portulaca is planted next to my sidwalk where it tends to get fairly cold in the winter. So, I'll dig mine up and store it.

Thanks for the info.

Hello,

I have been able to learn very little about this plant. Here, it's most common color is white with the pink-purple center. It is also sold under the name 'Spanish Moss' (go figure).

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There is a white form as well, but it does not appear to be as thrifty as the others. Last winter, I tried to bring some indoors to save it. I barely kept one small piece alive, and was later told that it needs much sun to thrive.

Any piece that breaks off, and is placed in soil, will root VERY quickly. I have tried to collect some seeds (I hope that what I am collecting are the seeds, as they are pretty small). I have not tried to germinate any, yet. The plant does not want to set seeds freely, if that is indeed what I am saving.

I am told that the plant will overwinter outside here (near Dallas), if it is given a cover of mulch. I have no experience with this, and as my sand is very cold, am not certain that will work.

I would like to know more about this succulent, as it does not appear to me to be a 'real' portulaca. It almost seems more like a purslane.

John