Hot Flowers for Hot Places

By Marie Harrison (can2grow)
May 27, 2012

Several years ago my class of 6th graders and I noticed a raised brick planter behind the cafeteria. It was in a highly visible area where buses loaded and unloaded and where parents came to pick up their children at all hours of the day. The planter was filled with weeds. It had not held any flowers or anything attractive for years. We decided to do something about this eyesore.

(Editor's note: This article was originally published on June 11, 2009.  your commets are wlcome, but please be aware that authros of previously published articles maynot be able to respond to your questions.)

The planter was in full sun and no supplemental irrigation was available. We knew we would have to water the plants by hand if nature didn't intervene and send rain. What was needed was a spot of color during the summer and fall that needed to be watered very little and that required minimal care. It would have to survive on its own during the summer since we wouldn't be there to care for it. Anyway, the children and I were busy learning about singular and possessive nouns and other matters of great importance, so we had little time for such pleasurable pursuits as flower gardening.

We decided that moss rose (Portulaca grandiflora) would be a good choice. After removing the weeds, we dug in a bit of peat moss and cow manure and followed it up with a light sprinkling of slow-release fertilizer. Then we planted several trays of the colorful flowers down the length of the planter.

Portulaca is a flowering annual that blooms throughout the summer. One-inch, roselike flowers of pink, white, yellow, orange, purple, scarlet, and combinations of these open in the bright light of day. Some varieties remain closed at night or on cloudy days. Inch-long leaves are somewhat succulent and cylindrical.

Culture

Portulaca was a perfect choice for the planter. We planted the plants about 8 inches apart, and they filled in and made a solid mass of color within a month or so. The plants were watered every day after lunch until they became established. Then they were left to fend for themselves.

Plants are easily started by seeds. Scatter seeds on the soil surface and make sure they have good contact with the soil. Keep damp until seeds germinate. Expect germination in 10-14 days. New plants can also be started from cuttings.                       

Kinds

Several species of portulaca are in the trade. Portulaca umbraticola is the popular purslane that is grown in hanging baskets and gardens. It has broader, more succulent leaves than moss rose. P. oleracea, sometimes called pigweed, wild portulaca, little hogweed, and pusley, is the not-so-popular, weedy purslane that infests gardens and disturbed areas in most of the United States. Although it is edible and has medicinal applications, it is seldom planted in the garden. If a crop is wanted for adding to the salad, it should be planted in a container.

Some popular cultivars of P. grandiflora include 'Calypso', an F2 hybrid with double flowers, and 'Sundance' which remains open longer than some other cultivars. 'Afternoon Delight' and 'Cloudbeater Mix' stay open all day. If certain colors are wanted, look for the Sundial series, which offers plants in separate colors. Many other cultivars are available, and most of them are mixes of all colors.

In the Garden

Few plants are as well-suited to hanging baskets and containers in hot, sunny, sandy areas as portulaca. Rock gardens are also ideal places for these plants. They are an excellent annual groundcover, and they were a good choice for the raised-bed planter at school. For the rest of the school year and during the next one until Jack Frost came calling, the flowers were enjoyed by everyone who came within viewing distance of the planter.

About Marie Harrison   Serving as a board member for Valparaiso Garden Club, the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs and the Deep South Region, and National Garden Clubs takes a chunk of my time and attention. Being a Master Flower Show Judge, a Floral Design Instructor, instructor of horticulture for National Garden Clubs, and a University of Florida Master Gardener crowds a bit more into my busy days. In addition to these activities, I contribute regularly to Florida Gardening magazine and other publications. I am author of four gardening books, all published by Pineapple Press, Sarasota, Florida. Read about them and visit me at www.mariesgardenanddesign.com.

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Discussion about this article:

Subject Topic Starter Replies Views Last Post The power of the Portulaca martinez8959 2 69 Jun 1, 2012 6:02 PM Portulaca and Possessives Potagere 12 138 May 29, 2012 9:07 AM Portulaca rednana71 0 14 May 28, 2012 7:42 AM Bought two this week - Invasive??? Igrowinpa 1 29 May 28, 2012 5:12 AM Seeds dolphin1252 1 40 Jun 19, 2009 5:45 PM Moss roses are not always annuals Neraksnikl 3 68 Jun 16, 2009 5:59 PM One of my favorites rebloomnut 0 25 Jun 16, 2009 5:42 AM Hot Flowers for Hot Places Sunshinesw 1 53 Jun 12, 2009 2:51 AM

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