One man’s weed is his wife’s pretty wildflower. Gina Pateracki, office manager at Green Earth wholesale Nursery on County Road 484 in Hernando, solved the family discussion by donating these two pots of portulacas to Jane. After researching the University of South Florida’s website at florida.plantatlas.usf.edu and then posting the photo on Native Florida Plants Identified on Facebook, a member identified them as non-native Paraguayan Portulaca amilis.
This Paraguayan Portulaca has elongated oval leaves they are thick and succulent but not cylindrical looking like Florida’s native Pink Portulaca, Portulaca pillosa. The deep rose-pink flowers are about a half inch in diameter. There are five petals that look like P. pillosa.
Native Pink Portulaca growing in the mowed grass at Green Earth Wholesale Nursery in Hernando. Note the plant leaves are mowed off but the pretty annual wildflower continues to flower. Winter freezes will kill the plant, but seedlings will sprout next season. Small skipper butterflies feed on the nectar and bees and wasps visit for pollen.
These fading flowers in a big box retail nursery had a tag saying the plant was Portulaca oleraceae, which is native to Florida and has yellow flowers. These flowers were larger than a half-inch and the leaves were plump and fat, but not hairy or cylindrical. To Jane, it looked more like Paraguayan Portulaca. Buyers need to be practical and realize some species can be confused for others that are similar. Overall plant tags are usually accurate these days — an improvement over just a few years ago. Nursery growers are much better educated and informed. Most are skilled at internet research and conscientious about correct plant names.
Pretty Paraguayan Portulaca is a drought- and heat-tolerant annual plant sold in retail nurseries. It is a trailing annual used in hanging baskets and planters. It will not survive winter frost and freezing temperatures. Even Jane has a difficulty differentiating between non-native Paraguayan and native Pink Portulaca.
The lovely, colorful portulaca readily available in retail nurseries are tagged as Portulaca grandiflora. Commonly called moss rose, it is a popular South American ornamental garden plant. Low-maintenance, drought- and heat-tolerant, this annual evolved in the hot, dry plains of Argentina, southern Brazil and Uruguay (not Mexico).
Low-maintenance, drought- and heat-tolerant, this annual large-flowered Portulaca grandiflora evolved in the hot, dry plains of Argentina, southern Brazil and Uruguay. A few older gardeners still mistakenly call it Mexican portulaca. Large-flowered cultivars are grown globally for their showy summer flowers. Covered with flowers all summer and into the fall, this portulaca grows in full sun in dry, hot climates. Each seedling plant has only one flower color. Due to cross pollination, seedlings grown from seeds may have different colored flowers than the parent.
Call this color salmon pink or pale orange — it makes a striking plant in a hanging basket, planter or when used to border a planting bed. If there are different colored flowers in the nursery pot, there are different plants. To separate the tangled roots of the seedlings with minimal taring or damage, Jane prefers to soak the pot briefly in water then remove the plant and gently swish it in the water. Just like untangling a child’s hair, the roots will separate in the water. All soil will be washed away. Place the roots in a pre-dug hole in amended, sandy but humus-rich soil and gently backfill over the roots. Flush with water to wash soil among the roots. Do not tamp, step or push on the roots as that will damage them.
Large-flowered colorful South American Portulacas are readily available at retail nurseries around the world. Grandiflora literally translates from the Latin to “big flower” in English. Flowers close at night, in the shade, afternoon and when banks of cloud pass by. It may flower year-round in South Florida but is killed by hard winter freezes further north.
Flowers are up to an inch or more in diameter on Portulaca grandiflora cultivars. Gardeners use large-flowered portulaca cultivars as annuals in rock gardens, hanging baskets, patio planters, summer groundcover and to edge planting beds. Plant height is about 6 to 9 inches with a spread of 1 to 2 feet before frost comes in late fall in Central Florida.
Yellow portulacas flower from summer through autumn until frosts kill the plant in Central Florida. Each flower is short-lived and fades as seeds begin to develop. Spent flower petals will shed naturally and are barely noticeable as new flowers open in succession. Flowering lasts for months from summer through autumn. Frosts will kill portulacas, so they are considered annuals. In South Florida and frost-free climates, portulacas can flower year-round.
Portulacas are not a moss nor are they a rose. However, old-time gardeners made up the name “moss rose” for this plant. Portulaca is the genus name that is nowadays used as a common name. Each portulaca flower lasts a few days then fades as seeds begin to develop. Spent flower petals shed naturally and are barely noticeable as new flowers open in succession. Flowering lasts for months from summer through autumn. Frosts will kill portulacas, so they are considered annuals. In South Florida and frost-free climates portulacas can flower year-round.
This is a range map showing distribution in Florida of native Portulaca pillosa. Jane added a text box showing the plant name and crediting the UFS source. She keeps a computer file full of plant range maps showing plant distribution in Florida and in the U.S.
Homeowners can look up any plant that grows in Florida at the University of South Florida’s website at florida.plantatlas.usf.edu. Type in the plant name and its page will pop up with up-to-date science-based information, a range map, and photos. This range map shows the distribution of naturalized, nonnative Paraguayan Portulaca, Portulaca amilis. It is not considered invasive nor does it disrupt natural habitats or ecosystems.
Yellow-flowered portulaca or Little Hogweed, Portulaca oleracea, is considered a native species, although was once thought to be a non-native, introduced species. It formerly had up to 36 different binomial names until modern testing revealed they are the same species. It grows throughout Florida in suitable dry land habitats. Its leaves have one of the richest known sources of a-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid.
One man’s weed is his wife’s pretty wildflower. Gina Pateracki, office manager at Green Earth wholesale Nursery on County Road 484 in Hernando, solved the family discussion by donating these two pots of portulacas to Jane. After researching the University of South Florida’s website at florida.plantatlas.usf.edu and then posting the photo on Native Florida Plants Identified on Facebook, a member identified them as non-native Paraguayan Portulaca amilis.
Jane Weber/Special to the Chronicle
This Paraguayan Portulaca has elongated oval leaves they are thick and succulent but not cylindrical looking like Florida’s native Pink Portulaca, Portulaca pillosa. The deep rose-pink flowers are about a half inch in diameter. There are five petals that look like P. pillosa.
Jane Weber/Special to the Chronicle
Native Pink Portulaca growing in the mowed grass at Green Earth Wholesale Nursery in Hernando. Note the plant leaves are mowed off but the pretty annual wildflower continues to flower. Winter freezes will kill the plant, but seedlings will sprout next season. Small skipper butterflies feed on the nectar and bees and wasps visit for pollen.
Jane Weber/Special to the Chronicle
These fading flowers in a big box retail nursery had a tag saying the plant was Portulaca oleraceae, which is native to Florida and has yellow flowers. These flowers were larger than a half-inch and the leaves were plump and fat, but not hairy or cylindrical. To Jane, it looked more like Paraguayan Portulaca. Buyers need to be practical and realize some species can be confused for others that are similar. Overall plant tags are usually accurate these days — an improvement over just a few years ago. Nursery growers are much better educated and informed. Most are skilled at internet research and conscientious about correct plant names.
Jane Weber/Special to the Chronicle
Pretty Paraguayan Portulaca is a drought- and heat-tolerant annual plant sold in retail nurseries. It is a trailing annual used in hanging baskets and planters. It will not survive winter frost and freezing temperatures. Even Jane has a difficulty differentiating between non-native Paraguayan and native Pink Portulaca.
Jane Weber/Special to the Chronicle
The lovely, colorful portulaca readily available in retail nurseries are tagged as Portulaca grandiflora. Commonly called moss rose, it is a popular South American ornamental garden plant. Low-maintenance, drought- and heat-tolerant, this annual evolved in the hot, dry plains of Argentina, southern Brazil and Uruguay (not Mexico).
Jane Weber/Special to the Chronicle
Low-maintenance, drought- and heat-tolerant, this annual large-flowered Portulaca grandiflora evolved in the hot, dry plains of Argentina, southern Brazil and Uruguay. A few older gardeners still mistakenly call it Mexican portulaca. Large-flowered cultivars are grown globally for their showy summer flowers. Covered with flowers all summer and into the fall, this portulaca grows in full sun in dry, hot climates. Each seedling plant has only one flower color. Due to cross pollination, seedlings grown from seeds may have different colored flowers than the parent.
Jane Weber/Special to the Chronicle
Call this color salmon pink or pale orange — it makes a striking plant in a hanging basket, planter or when used to border a planting bed. If there are different colored flowers in the nursery pot, there are different plants. To separate the tangled roots of the seedlings with minimal taring or damage, Jane prefers to soak the pot briefly in water then remove the plant and gently swish it in the water. Just like untangling a child’s hair, the roots will separate in the water. All soil will be washed away. Place the roots in a pre-dug hole in amended, sandy but humus-rich soil and gently backfill over the roots. Flush with water to wash soil among the roots. Do not tamp, step or push on the roots as that will damage them.
Jane Weber/Special to the Chronicle
Large-flowered colorful South American Portulacas are readily available at retail nurseries around the world. Grandiflora literally translates from the Latin to “big flower” in English. Flowers close at night, in the shade, afternoon and when banks of cloud pass by. It may flower year-round in South Florida but is killed by hard winter freezes further north.
Jane Weber/Special to the Chronicle
Flowers are up to an inch or more in diameter on Portulaca grandiflora cultivars. Gardeners use large-flowered portulaca cultivars as annuals in rock gardens, hanging baskets, patio planters, summer groundcover and to edge planting beds. Plant height is about 6 to 9 inches with a spread of 1 to 2 feet before frost comes in late fall in Central Florida.
Jane Weber/Special to the Chronicle
Yellow portulacas flower from summer through autumn until frosts kill the plant in Central Florida. Each flower is short-lived and fades as seeds begin to develop. Spent flower petals will shed naturally and are barely noticeable as new flowers open in succession. Flowering lasts for months from summer through autumn. Frosts will kill portulacas, so they are considered annuals. In South Florida and frost-free climates, portulacas can flower year-round.
Jane Weber/Special to the Chronicle
Portulacas are not a moss nor are they a rose. However, old-time gardeners made up the name “moss rose” for this plant. Portulaca is the genus name that is nowadays used as a common name. Each portulaca flower lasts a few days then fades as seeds begin to develop. Spent flower petals shed naturally and are barely noticeable as new flowers open in succession. Flowering lasts for months from summer through autumn. Frosts will kill portulacas, so they are considered annuals. In South Florida and frost-free climates portulacas can flower year-round.
Jane Weber/Special to the Chronicle
This is a range map showing distribution in Florida of native Portulaca pillosa. Jane added a text box showing the plant name and crediting the UFS source. She keeps a computer file full of plant range maps showing plant distribution in Florida and in the U.S.
Jane Weber/Special to the Chronicle
Homeowners can look up any plant that grows in Florida at the University of South Florida’s website at florida.plantatlas.usf.edu. Type in the plant name and its page will pop up with up-to-date science-based information, a range map, and photos. This range map shows the distribution of naturalized, nonnative Paraguayan Portulaca, Portulaca amilis. It is not considered invasive nor does it disrupt natural habitats or ecosystems.
Jane Weber/Special to the Chronicle
Yellow-flowered portulaca or Little Hogweed, Portulaca oleracea, is considered a native species, although was once thought to be a non-native, introduced species. It formerly had up to 36 different binomial names until modern testing revealed they are the same species. It grows throughout Florida in suitable dry land habitats. Its leaves have one of the richest known sources of a-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid.
There are over 100 species of flowering plants in the Portulaca genus of the family Portulacaceae that evolved in North, Central and South America. Some species are tropical. Others grow in subtropical or warm temperate regions like Florida. Further north, freezing kills portulacas, but some grow as annuals from self-sown seed. Formerly called purslanes, several portulaca species are edible plants.
Six portulaca species grow in Florida. Four are native to Florida as well as two closely related native species in the same family: Shoreline Seapurslane, Sesuvium portulacastrum and Desert Horseperslane, Trianthema portulacastrum.
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PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.