Plant Encyclopedia

Other Names:  Moss Rose, Purslane

Group/Class:  RioGrande™ Series

Brand:  Ball

Description:

A low growing and trailing selection featuring large, brightly colored blooms over green succulent foliage; a perfect addition to sunny hanging baskets, patio containers and landscapes; thrives in hot and arid climates; drought tolerant once established

Ornamental Features

RioGrande™ Scarlet Portulaca features showy scarlet cup-shaped flowers with gold eyes at the ends of the stems from late spring to early fall. Its small succulent oval leaves remain green in colour throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

RioGrande™ Scarlet Portulaca is an herbaceous annual with a ground-hugging habit of growth. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

RioGrande™ Scarlet Portulaca is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Container Planting
• Hanging Baskets

Planting & Growing

RioGrande™ Scarlet Portulaca will grow to be only 4 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 9 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. This fast-growing annual will normally live for one full growing season, needing replacement the following year.

This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. This plant should not require much in the way of fertilizing once established, although it may appreciate a shot of general-purpose fertilizer from time to time early in the growing season. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in poor soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by cuttings; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

RioGrande™ Scarlet Portulaca is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor containers and hanging baskets. Because of its spreading habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.