Purslane
Portulaca oleracea
Botanical family: Portulacaceae
Portulaca oleracea, an annual succulent Portulacaceae, spontaneous in cultivated ground throughout France, the summer vegetable garden included. Leaves and stems are eaten raw or cooked. Sources: Tela Botanica, “Portulaca oleracea L.” (Coste's flora); Plants For A Future, “Portulaca oleracea”.
Full sun, warm and sheltered
Ordinary, well-drained, even poor and dry
Very low, a succulent that loves heat and dryness
Frost-tender annual, but self-seeds abundantly
An annual killed by frost in your zone
Role in permaculture
A small trailing succulent, often dismissed as a 'weed' when it's an excellent summer leaf vegetable: crunchy, tart, and remarkably rich in omega-3 for a plant. It thrives in blazing sun on poor soil, covers the ground, and self-seeds year after year. An edible ground cover for dry, hot corners.
Companions
No companion planting is documented for this plant: no recommended neighbour, no neighbour to avoid.
Seasons & availability
A summer leaf vegetable: sown in warmth, picked from June to September; it self-seeds.
Available: June, July, August, September.
Guidance for the oceanic / temperate climate; it may vary with your region, altitude, exposure and growing method.
Sources
- La Ferme de Sainte Marthe, « Réussir la culture du pourpier » (fermedesaintemarthe.com/en/blogs/comment-reussir-la-culture-de/reussir-la-culture-du-pourpier)
- Plants For A Future, « Portulaca oleracea » (pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Portulaca+oleracea)
Nutritional & medicinal properties
For educational purposes. Not a substitute for medical advice. Effects depend on the form, the dose and personal context.
Precautions & contraindications
When foraging, do not confuse purslane (smooth, fleshy stems, no latex) with a prostrate spurge (Euphorbia, e.g. spotted spurge), which is toxic and has the same habit in the summer vegetable garden: when broken, spurge exudes an irritant white latex, purslane a clear sap, this is the decisive test. Almost all 'purslane poisonings' are in fact confusions with spurge. Like sorrel and spinach, it also contains oxalates: moderation in case of oxalate kidney stones.
Species & varieties
The best-known species and varieties in France.
Species
Common varieties
Before you forage
This plant is often gathered from the wild. Only pick what is abundant, never a protected species, and never uproot a whole plant (roots) without the landowner's permission. Rules vary by country and region, check locally.
Key takeaways
- • Prefers full sun, warm and sheltered exposure.
- • Ideal soil: ordinary, well-drained, even poor and dry.