Portulaca oleraceae
Purslane
Portulacaceae
Annuals, Herbs
PORTULACALow-growing, fleshy plants. One is called a weed but can be used in cooking and salads. The others are grown for their brilliant flowers, on display from late spring until frost; generally, the blossoms open fully in bright light and close by midafternoon in hot weather.
The various plants described here thrive in high temperatures, intense sunlight. Not fussy about soil. Bright-flowered types are attractive in rock gardens, parking strips, hanging baskets, or as edgings and bank covers; they don’t require deadheading to prolong bloom.
Portulaca oleraceaeUnimproved form is thought to have originated in India; it’s an edible weed with tiny yellowflowers and plump, oval leavesto 1 1/4 in. long. Warm weatherand moisture encourage itsgrowth. Control by hoeing orpulling before it goes to seed;don’t let pulled plants lie about,since they can reroot or ripenseed. Stems and leaves can beadded to salads, soups, sauces; improved garden strains are sold for the vegetable garden.
Calceolaria Herberohybrida Group
This is the florists’ calceolaria that producesmasses of velvety, inch-longyellow or red flowers, ofte...
Chinese Cabbage
Biennial grown as annual. With a looser head and more delicate flavor than ordinary cabbage (a close r...
Nemesia caerulea
To 2 ft. high, 1 ft. wide, withsmall bright green leaves andupright stems carrying manyintensely fragr...
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