Skip to content
PlantSage.eu
ENRO
IIIFolio · plant profile№ 2906medicinal · edible
Data provenancePermapeopleTrefleWikipediaPFAFPOWOeditorially reviewedreviewed 20 Oct 2026methodology → read
Home/Plants/Caryophyllaceae

Green Purslane

Portulaca oleraceafam. Caryophyllaceae
Educational content — not medical, botanical, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified clinician before using any herbal preparation — especially during pregnancy, breastfeeding, while on medication, or for children. How we source & review →
medicinaledibleannualannualedibleedible leafherbmedicinalsucculent
Updated·Quick Q&A →
Garden journal pausedUse profile notes below
Portulaca oleracea (Green Purslane) — botanical photograph
Pl. 2906 — Portulaca oleracea
Portulaca oleraceaPortulaca oleraceaPortulaca oleraceaPortulaca oleraceaPortulaca oleraceaPortulaca oleraceaPortulaca oleraceaPortulaca oleraceaPortulaca oleraceaPortulaca oleraceaPortulaca oleraceaPortulaca oleraceaPortulaca oleraceaPortulaca oleracea
I

Overview

Green Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is a light-loving annual forb or herb native to regions including Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, and Angola. This resilient plant thrives in moist, well-drained soils with a pH of 7-7.5, making it adaptable to various climates across its native range. Known for both its edible and medicinal properties, Green Purslane is valued for its succulent, green foliage that often forms a low-growing mat, reaching up to 0.3 meters in height. Its distinctive feature lies in its ability to be found in diverse habitats, from the Canary Islands to Yemen. This plant can be propagated by seed and is hardy in temperate regions (zones 3-12), thriving in full sun to partial shade. Regular, but not excessive, watering is recommended. The leaves and seeds can be harvested for culinary use, making Green Purslane a versatile addition to gardens and landscapes.

Quick answers

What is Green Purslane?

Green Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is a light-loving annual forb or herb native to regions including Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, and Angola. This resilient plant thrives in moist, well-drained soils with a pH of 7-7.5, making it adaptable to various climates across its native range.

Compare with:Golden Purslane→Catchfly→Japanese pearlwort→all comparisons →
IV·b

Mixology suggestions

1 draft
Editorial drafts. These pairings are AI-suggested from traditional herbal lore. Always verify with a qualified herbalist before brewing.
Digestive Harmony
digestion
tincture
Traditional use for digestive issues.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
V

Cultivation

Green Purslane thrives in light to medium soil, preferring a pH of 7–7.5. It requires moist conditions and can grow in a variety of habitats, making it adaptable to different environments. This annual plant, reaching up to 0.3 meters in height, is hardy in zones 3-12, making it suitable for temperate regions. For propagation, sow seeds directly in the garden, ensuring they receive plenty of light. Water regularly to keep the soil moist, and enjoy its edible leaves and seeds.
Light
7/10
Water
Moist
Soil
Light (sandy), Medium
Hardiness
3-12
Life cycle
Annual
Habit
Forb/herb
Mature size
0.3 m tall
Soil pH
7–7.5
For first-time growers

How to grow Green Purslane for the first time

7steps

Green Purslane is a forgiving plant that's perfect for beginners looking to try their hand at gardening.

  1. 1

    What you'll need

    Seeds, small pots or direct garden space, potting soil.

  2. 2

    Best time to plant

    Plant in spring after the last frost, or start seeds indoors a few weeks earlier.

  3. 3

    Soil and container prep

    Use well-draining soil with a pH of 7-7.5. Containers should be at least 6 inches deep.

  4. 4

    Sowing or transplanting

    Direct sow seeds in the garden, spacing them about 4 inches apart. Alternatively, start indoors and transplant after danger of frost passes.

  5. 5

    First two weeks

    Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Provide partial shade during hot days.

  6. 6

    Ongoing care

    Water when the top inch of soil is dry. Fertilize sparingly with a balanced fertilizer every 4-6 weeks.

  7. 7

    Harvest or pruning

    Pinch back stems to encourage bushy growth and prevent legginess. Harvest leaves as needed for salads.

VI

Edible & utility

Edible parts:LeavesSeed
Edible uses: Salt
Other uses:Dynamic accumulator
Contextrange · companions · related
VII

Distribution

61 native · 237 introduced
Distribution across5 continents· 61 native· 237 introduced
Europe26 regions
native (6)AlbaniaGreeceItalyPortugalRussiaSpain
introduced (20)AustriaBelarusBelgiumBulgariaDenmarkFinlandFranceGermanyHungaryItalyNetherlandsPolandPortugalRomaniaRussiaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandUkraineUnited Kingdom
Asia28 regions
native (10)AfghanistanIranIraqKuwaitOmanPakistanPalestineSaudi ArabiaTurkeyYemen
introduced (18)BangladeshCambodiaChinaGeorgiaIndiaJapanKazakhstanLaosMaldivesMyanmarNepalPhilippinesSouth KoreaSri LankaTaiwanTurkmenistanUzbekistanVietnam
Americas20 regions
introduced (20)BahamasBelizeBoliviaColombiaCosta RicaCubaDominican RepublicEcuadorEl SalvadorFrench GuianaGuatemalaGuyanaHaitiHondurasNicaraguaParaguayPuerto RicoSurinameUruguayVenezuela
Africa40 regions
native (28)AlgeriaAngolaBeninBurkina FasoBurundiCameroonChadCôte d'IvoireEgyptEritreaEthiopiaGabonGambiaGuineaGuinea-BissauKenyaLiberiaMaliMauritaniaMoroccoNigerNigeriaSenegalSeychellesSierra LeoneSomaliaSudanTunisia
introduced (12)BotswanaCabo VerdeDjiboutiEswatiniLesothoMalawiMauritiusMozambiqueNamibiaRwandaZambiaZimbabwe
Oceania7 regions
introduced (7)FijiNauruNew CaledoniaSamoaTongaTuvaluVanuatu
Broader regions
native:Aldabra, Ascension, Central African Repu, Chagos Archipelago, Congo, Gulf of Guinea Is., Gulf States, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Sinai, Socotra, St.Helena, Transcaucasus, Turkey-in-Europe, Yugoslavia, Zaïre
introduced:Alabama, Alberta, Altay, Amur, Andaman Is., Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, Arizona, Arkansas, Aruba, Bermuda, Borneo, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, British Columbia, California, Cape Provinces, Cayman Is., Central American Pac, Chile Central, Chile North, Chile South, Christmas I., Cocos (Keeling) Is., Colorado, Connecticut, Cook Is., Czechoslovakia, Delaware, Desventurados Is., District of Columbia, East Aegean Is., East Himalaya, Easter Is., Florida, Free State, Galápagos, Hainan, Howland-Baker Is., Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Jawa, Juan Fernández Is., Kamchatka, Kansas, Kazan-retto, Kentucky, Kirgizstan, KwaZulu-Natal, Laccadive Is., Leeward Is., Lesser Sunda Is., Line Is., Louisiana, Maine, Malaya, Maluku, Manitoba, Marquesas, Maryland, Masachusettes, Massachusetts, Mexican Pacific Is., Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Mozambique Channel I, Nansei-shoto, Nebraska, Netherlands Antilles, Nevada, New Brunswick, New Guinea, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, New Zealand North, Nicobar Is., Niue, Norfolk Is., North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Provinces, Nova Scotia, Ogasawara-shoto, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Panamá, Pennsylvania, Phoenix Is., Pitcairn Is., Primorye, Prince Edward I., Québec, Queensland, Réunion, Rhode I., Rodrigues, Saskatchewan, Society Is., Solomon Is., South Carolina, South China Sea, South Dakota, Southwest Caribbean, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Tadzhikistan, Tasmania, Tennessee, Texas, Tokelau-Manihiki, Trinidad-Tobago, Tuamotu, Tubuai Is., Turks-Caicos Is., Utah, Venezuelan Antilles, Vermont, Virginia, Wallis-Futuna Is., Washington, West Himalaya, West Virginia, Western Australia, Windward Is., Wisconsin, Wyoming
IX

Specimen gallery

1 image
Portulaca oleracea (Green Purslane) — botanical photograph
Green Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)
X

See also

8 related
XI

Explore further

Growing zone
XII

About this entry

Last updated
Citation
How to cite this entry · Submit a correction
Back to the cataloguePlant id · 290611cc-d275-45d2-a998-89ccabb3d4b4
Decision aid
Choosing between Green Purslane and something else?
Compare with another plant

Continue reading

❦❦❦❦
Endpaper · archive updates

Get archive updates

Occasional email when substantial new content lands — plant profiles, seasonal growing notes, folk-remedy additions. Free, no tracking, unsubscribe anytime.

Newsletter returning soon.
We are rebuilding the update list around a lightweight editorial workflow. New dispatches will resume after the next content review cycle.
iCare notes