PlantFiles: Rock Purslane
Calandrinia grandiflora

This Chilean Native species grows as well in sandy soils at the coastal areas (where it blooms almost year-round) as inlads, at the foot of the Andes Mountains or in the Atacama Desert after the rare occurance of rainfall (where it blooms during Spring), always in full sun positions. Adecuate for xeriscaping. Good drainage is a must.

The fleshy leaves from an attractive basal rosette, with 50/60 cm long flower stems. Flowers can reach a diameter of up to 6 cm.

This plant can be propagated either from seeds or from separating rootballs.

Sow outdoors is Autumn on a mix of equal parts of river sand and regular garden soil. cover this mixture with a thin layer of pure sand, scatter your seeds and cover the thinly with more sand. Plants grown from seeds can take up to 3 years to bloom.

Separate rootballs and leave them in light shade for a few days, until a 'callus' has formed where it was separated from the rest of the plant. Only then they are ready to be planted. The new plants will bloom a year later.