Is Purslane an Annual or Perennial? A Gardener’s Guide

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is a common succulent plant that often pops up in vegetable gardens and flower beds Its thick, juicy leaves and low-growing habit lead many gardeners to mistake it for a perennial weed However, purslane is actually an annual plant in most climates. Understanding whether purslane is an annual or perennial is key to effective management and control.

The Life Cycle of Purslane

Most of the time, purslane grows like a summer annual that grows quickly. From seed germination to seed production, it goes through its whole lifecycle in one growing season:

• When the soil gets to at least 15°C in the spring, seeds start to grow. This usually occurs around late April or May.

• Within 6-8 weeks after sprouting, purslane begins flowering. Small yellow blooms appear in early to midsummer, around June and July.

• Each purslane plant can produce an astonishing number of seeds. In one season, one plant can make more than 240000 seeds! Seeds are ready to be planted by late summer.

• At the first hard frost in fall the annual purslane plant dies off completely. It does not come back the following spring.

However, purslane seeds have tremendous longevity in the soil. They can remain viable for up to 40 years. So new plants readily sprout each spring from this massive seed bank.

While individual purslane plants only live for one season, the species persists year after year thanks to prolific seed production.

Perennial Tendencies in Warm Climates

In most places, gardeners deal with purslane as an annual summer weed that grows quickly. However, in the warmest climates, purslane may exhibit perennial tendencies.

In USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9-11, where winters stay frost-free, purslane plants can survive year-round. They behave as short-lived perennials in these warm regions, coming back from root crowns and stems season after season.

Even in mild climates, purslane still relies primarily on seeds as its main reproductive strategy. But occasional perennial plants can persist, especially where gardeners actively cultivate purslane. These perennial purslanes resprout fresh growth each spring from overwintering roots and stems.

Controlling Purslane in the Garden

Whether behaving as an annual or perennial, purslane can quickly become a weedy pest. Effective control requires understanding its growth habits and lifecycle:

• Hand pull or hoe plants before they go to seed. Even small plants can produce some viable seeds, so don’t delay!

• Remove every piece of the plant, including broken stems and fragments. Purslane can reroot from even small fragments.

• Use organic mulches like wood chips to block light needed for purslane seed germination. This helps suppress future generations.

• Avoid excessive soil disturbance, as this brings buried purslane seeds to the surface where they can sprout.

• In warm climates, remove root crowns and stems entirely to prevent perennial regrowth.

While purslane cannot be completely eradicated once established, preventing it from going to seed will reduce its spread over time. As the soil seed bank declines, this fast-growing annual becomes easier to control each season.

Eating Purslane Greens

Before removing purslane from the garden, consider tasting its tender, tangy leaves. All parts are edible both raw and cooked. Purslane contains many beneficial antioxidants, omega-3s, vitamins and minerals. So don’t be too quick to discard this fast-growing summertime “weed”!

Understanding purslane’s behavior as an annual is critical for control in the garden. But its nutritious edible qualities may make it worth tolerating in moderation. Let us know in the comments if you’ve ever tried eating this surprising garden “weed”!