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IIIFolio · plant profile№ C920medicinal · edible
Data provenancePermapeopleTreflePFAFPOWOeditorially reviewedreviewed 13 Oct 2026methodology → read
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Little hogweed

Portulaca retusafam. Caryophyllaceae
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medicinaledibleannualannualdrought tolerantedibleedible leafherbmedicinal
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Portulaca retusa (Little hogweed) — botanical photograph
Pl. C920 — Portulaca retusa
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I

Overview

Little hogweed (Portulaca retusa) is an annual forb or herb native to regions across Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Europe, including Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, and Yemen, as well as various islands such as Aldabra and Seychelles. Known for its edible leaves and seeds, this plant thrives in light to medium soil with a pH between 7 and 7.5, preferring dry to moist conditions. Standing at about 0.2 meters tall, little hogweed is adaptable to diverse habitats and can be found from Afghanistan to Yemen. It requires full sun to partial shade and is hardy in temperate regions. For cultivation, sow seeds directly into the garden bed after all danger of frost has passed, ensuring regular watering while allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Harvest leaves and seeds for culinary use.

Quick answers

What is Little hogweed?

Little hogweed (Portulaca retusa) is an annual forb or herb native to regions across Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Europe, including Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, and Yemen, as well as various islands such as Aldabra and Seychelles.

What is Little hogweed used for?

Traditionally used for digestion. Each claim is evidence-rated — see Section II for full citations.

Compare with:Azorella selago→Fuegia fern→Carex nubigena→all comparisons →
Best for
Top 1 evidence-ranked use of Little hogweed
Jump to full evidence →
Clinicaluses · safety · chemistry · dosagemedicinal profile
II

Benefits & evidence

1 claim · traditional-use context
Traditional-use context
These notes are presented as ethnobotanical context. No cited clinical references are catalogued for this plant yet.
  • Traditional-use note: Little hogweed appears in herbal sources around after-meal comfort traditions, often as a traditional preparation. PlantSage presents this as ethnobotanical context, not as medical advice.

    Traditional context only. This reviewed claim keeps the original low confidence level, but avoids treatment, disease, dosage, or guaranteed-effect language.

    ▲ LimitedDigestion →
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
V

Cultivation

Little hogweed thrives in light to medium soil with a pH of 7-7.5 and prefers dry to moist conditions. It is an annual forb or herb that grows up to 0.2 meters tall. This plant requires full sun to partial shade and is hardy in temperate regions. For propagation, sow seeds directly into the garden bed after all danger of frost has passed. Water regularly but allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Harvest leaves and seeds for culinary use.
Light
7/10
Water
Dry, Moist
Soil
Light (sandy), Medium
Life cycle
Annual
Habit
Forb/herb
Mature size
0.2 m tall
Soil pH
7–7.5
For first-time growers

How to grow Little hogweed for the first time

8steps

Start with Little hogweed as a simple annual herb, focusing on basic care and harvesting leaves.

  1. 1

    What you'll need

    Seeds or seedlings, potting soil, small containers or garden bed.

  2. 2

    Best time to plant

    Plant in spring after the last frost, or start seeds indoors a month before planting outdoors.

  3. 3

    Soil and container prep

    Use well-draining soil with a pH of 7-7.5. Ensure containers have drainage holes.

  4. 4

    Sowing or transplanting

    Direct sow seeds in the garden, covering them lightly. For containers, plant seedlings or direct-sown seeds.

  5. 5

    First two weeks

    Water regularly to keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Keep plants in a sunny spot.

  6. 6

    Ongoing care

    Provide full sun and regular watering, especially during dry periods. Pinch back young growth for bushier plants.

  7. 7

    Harvest or pruning

    Prune leaves as needed for use in salads or cooking; this also encourages new growth.

  8. 8

    Common mistakes

    Overwatering, planting too deep, neglecting to pinch back young growth.

VI

Edible & utility

Edible parts:LeavesSeed
Edible uses: The little hogweed is edible and its leaves and seeds can be consumed. The leaves are often eaten fresh in salads or cooked as a vegetable. Seeds can be harvested and used in various culinary applications, though specific preparation methods are not detailed here.
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
VIII

Garden companions

1 pair
Plant near these

These plants help — by repelling pests, fixing nitrogen, attracting pollinators, or sharing space well.

IX

Specimen gallery

1 image
Portulaca retusa (Little hogweed) — botanical photograph
Little hogweed (Portulaca retusa)
X

See also

8 related

Plants you might compare or use together — scored by shared family (Caryophyllaceae), common use cases, and growing requirements.

XI

Explore further

XII

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