Portulaca
flower
Also called moss rose. Thrives in hot, dry, poor-soil conditions where most plants fail. Ideal for south-facing raised beds with lean soil. Flowers close at night and on cloudy days. Self-seeds to return each year.
At a glance
- USDA Zones
- 3–11
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hrs)
- Water
- Low — drought-tolerant once established
- Soil
- Sandy, loam
- pH
- Neutral
- Spacing
- 6 in. between plants
- Per square foot
- 4 plants per square
- Days to maturity
- About 60 days
Planting & harvest windows
Northern Hemisphere timing. Adjust ±4–6 weeks based on your last/first frost dates.
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Harvest |
Plant Harvest
Good companions
Recommended varieties
- Happy Hour Seriesboth
Stays open longer than older types — full day blooming even in cloudy weather.
- Sundial Mixboth
Classic double-flowered type in a wide color range.
- Wildfire Mixseed
Bright single flowers in vivid neon tones — very prolific.
Add Portulaca to your raised bed — the planner handles spacing and companion warnings automatically.
Open the planner →