CyberSalad: Garden Pursuits: Annuals: Portulaca

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Portulaca grandiflora

     This pretty little annual from Brazil grows about 6 inches tall and produces many flowers about an inch in size that open every morning in the sunshine and form a carpet of color. The shining petals of the roselike single or double blossoms appear in shades of rose, salmon, pink, scarlet, orange, yellow, and white. It's narrow, fleshy leaves are almost hidden by the flowers, which open only in sunshine.
     In a hot, dry location where most flowers will not grow, portulaca will prosper--on banks, along a driveway, in a rock garden, as a ground cover, or in patio planters. To thrive, they need little more than sunshine and soil, preferably rather poor soil.
     Sow seeds outdoors after the last frost or start them indoors four to six weeks earlier. Outdoors, broadcast the very fine seed mixed with dry sand. They need no thinning or spacing. Young plants transplant easily. Mature plants may spread their own seed, so once portulaca is planted, it often reappears from year to year.

	'Margarita Mix', compact mounded habit and looks like a rock garden or alpine species. Begins to flower when only 4" high and continues to spread to a mature width of 14". Throughout the entire season it is covered with semi-double rose flowers 1 1/2" across.
	'Sundial Mix', vigorous foliage, early large blooms, nearly all doubles. Colors are bright and vivid; they include cream, fuchsia, orange, pink, scarlet, white, and yellow.

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Site launched January 1, 2000.
Site updated September 1, 2007.