Looking Good Purslane Hanging Plant
Common purslane on the other hand looks a little like a tiny jade plant and you can eat the leaves stems flowers and seeds either raw or cooked.
Purslane hanging plant. Alternate leaves are clustered at stem joints the individual leaves are quite fleshy storing lots of water when available each flat green leaf is oval to spoon-shaped broadest near the rounded tip. Use caution if introducing it to your garden as it can be quite invasive. Purslane related to Portulaca has rounded succulent leaves that grow vigorously and thrives in hot dry conditions.
Purslane is perfect for hot summer conditions when you need a full sun drought tolerant option. Purslane is high in Omega-3 fatty acids and contains vitamin A vitamin C vitamin B magnesium calcium potassium and iron. The purslane herb has red stems and fleshy green leaves.
Has been grown for more than 4000-years as a food and medicinal plant. The weed type of Portulaca oleracea or purslane is sometimes grown as a pot herb to be cooked and eaten. Purslane is also a favorite plant for hungry butterflies.
Portulaca umbraticola and Portulaca grandiflora are the ornamental purslanes you see hanging in baskets at the nurseries. It grows rapidly and so the minute the nurseries in my area offer it for sale I buy as much as I can and replant it everywhere. They may be planted in containers as well such as whiskey barrel planters and hanging baskets.
They are useful in areas with poor soil where other plants struggle to grow and is versatile as a ground cover bedding plant in containers or hanging baskets. All in all edible purslane is a very healthy plant to add to your diet. The mat-like plants grow 4 to 8 inches tall so they are ideal for hanging baskets window boxes or as a colorful groundcover tucked amid stones in a garden pathway.
Or hang it on a balcony and enjoy the bright blooms. The plant is creeping succulent its reddish branching stems rise above the ground by 15-20 cm 59-79 inches. The leaves taste slightly citrusy and salty with a peppery kick not unlike arugula but with a juicier crunch to it.