Portulaca pilosa
shaggy portulaca
Overview
Portulaca pilosa is a low, fleshy-leaved succulent, grown as an annual or short-lived perennial, forming spreading mats 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) tall and up to 12 inches (30 cm) wide on sandy, sunny ground across the warmer Americas. The cylindrical to linear leaves are 0.2-1 inch (5-25 mm) long, and tufts of long white hairs cluster in the leaf axils and around the flower buds, giving the plant a shaggy look. Magenta to rose-pink flowers about 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) across open at the stem tips in bright midday sun and close by afternoon, each lasting a single day. Flowering runs through the warm months, and plants self-sow freely from tiny seeds. The species withstands heat, drought, and poor soil but collapses in shade and damp, and frost kills it outright. It roots quickly from stem fragments. Bloom closes in cloudy weather, so flowers show only in full sun.
Native Range
Native to the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America, growing on sandy soils, rock outcrops, dunes, and disturbed open ground in warm climates.Suggested Uses
Grown in rock gardens, sandy beds, containers, and as a warm-season groundcover on hot, dry sites. Used along walls, in cracks, and on green roofs where soil is lean and drainage sharp. Its frost tenderness and need for full sun restrict its use in shaded or cold-winter borders.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2" - 6"
Width/Spread6" - 1'
Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Magenta to rose-pinkFoliage Description
GreenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Full sun and dry, sharply drained sandy soil suit this heat-tolerant succulent. It tolerates a soil pH from about 5.5 to 7.5 and stores water in its leaves, withstanding drought and reflected heat once rooted. Overwatering and shade cause weak, rotting growth and few flowers. Plants self-sow and root from fragments, renewing a planting on their own. Frost kills the foliage, so it persists only as an annual where winters are cold. Few pests trouble it beyond occasional aphids on new growth.Pruning
Straggly stems can be trimmed to keep the mat compact during the growing season. Frost-killed growth is cleared at season end. No structural pruning is needed.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons