Common name: Rock Purslane
Originally from: Chile
Blooms: Bright fuchsia flowers wave on thin stems above the foliage all through the year.
Light: Full sun to part shade
Water: Rain is plenty. No summer water!
Height x width: 15" x 4'
Zones: 8-10
Where to find in P. Garden: We've edged the outer border with cuttings, and a couple big clumps thrive along the cactus wall.
I can't believe I haven't profiled this plant yet. I wanted some for so long, finally found out what it was, begged for cuttings from Deborah, and finally they have taken off. Goodness me, have they ever taken off...
Lovely succulent blue-green leaves mound up, and magenta flowers that look like 2" poppies opening in waves from Spring onwards are held high above the plant on thin, wiry stems. This plant requires no care, but in the dead of winter you can cut it back to 6" if you like, for a tidier springtime display.
And the cuttings you have left over? Give them to neighbors, poke them in rock wall nooks and crannies, and spread the love. Why are they called Rock Purslane? Because they rock. I don't know about the Purslane part.
Hello my wife and I just got this plant and loved the beautiful color, were in the month of September right now and the plant get full sun all day long it is planted in a 30gal size pot and for some reason the blooms have diminished considerably do u have any suggestions as to what we might need to change to get this beauty back to normal? oh yeah we water the plant just once a week about 1/2 gal water then once a month with a water soluble fertilizer diluted again down to 1/2 gal, Thank U
ReplyDeleteProbably doesn't need or want fertilizer which is nurturing the green growth and suppressing the flower production.
DeleteThe blooms are slowing on ours right now too - they have a big burst of flowers in spring, then continued flowers through the year, though fewer blooms. I have tried cutting back the flower stems on some of mine and they bounce back quickly.
ReplyDeletethanks for the quick response, when you say cutting back the flower stem would that be as close to the plant without cutting the plant? Thanks again
ReplyDeleteYup! You can cut the plant back to 6" if it gets sprawly too.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI just rec'd a bunch of cuttings and have no idea how to plant them since there are no roots. Should I soak them in water first to root or just stick the stalks in the ground? Thanks!
No need to soak them - in fact, let the ends heal over a day or two (dry out) then pop them straight into the ground.
ReplyDeleteAre you supposed to cut off the dead flowers and the stalk to the base of the plants near its leaves?
ReplyDeleteThe flower stalk keep producing actually, so leave them on unless they get scraggly. It's such a tough plant here though that you can cut back to 6" anytime and it'll come right back.
ReplyDeleteBy "cuttings" - do you mean just leaves can be put in the ground??
ReplyDeleteNot just leaves - take stems. let the ends dry off and then just pop them in the ground.
DeleteI love this plant, I am wondering if I am over watering it. The leaves are getting soft and turning a little yellow. We live in Valencia CA and the temps get to over 100 degrees. I planted this plant in a clay pot and water it about twice a week when the soil is dry. Please advise. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteIt's either too wet or too dry - in a clay pot in 100 degree weather I'm betting too dry.
DeleteThe leaves on my plants are turning yellowish. I thought I might be under wartering, but reading the comments above, it sounds like they don't need much water at all. They are planted in the ground, not a pot. I've had them about a year, and they've tripled in size. Do I need to cut them back, is that why they are turning yellowish?
ReplyDeleteMaybe too little water - are the leaves wrinkled? Are they also pinkish/purplish? That's usually what happens when stressed by lack of water. Could be too much water - try letting them dry out a bit.
DeleteI live in the Mtns. of AZ and have this plant in a pot. Will it come back after winter? I have other succulents that do.
ReplyDeleteWell it's listed as zones 8-10 so tough to say: you'll want to prevent it freezing for sure. Good luck!
DeleteI live in MS and we have winter here not very bed but at night sometimes is 30-32 degrees so my question is can I plant this plant in the ground or in a pot so I can bring it inside in the winter?
ReplyDeleteI have read that it can go down to 18 degrees, but we rarely go below freezing so I cannot say for sure. I would plant it in the ground and put a cutting in a pot to overwinter to be safe.
DeleteQuestion my is growing like crazy and hanging over my Wheelbarrow . I just learn that I can cut them and replanted it from you . But would you put a wooden wall up so it can grow up and not down ????
ReplyDeleteThey will flop down a little way, but mostly grow up. Hope that helps!
DeleteHi there. We just picked up one of these. How often do we water it while it's trying to get established? And how long do they take to establish? We live in a zone 8.
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa
Deletehere in zone 10b we don't water them at all to establish - in fact I stuff fresh cuttings into the bone dry dirt and they root pretty quickly. I'm sure if you watered them at planting and once or twice afterwards they'd take off even faster!
Is that seed I see on the stem where the flowers were? and if they are can I grow this plant from them?
ReplyDeleteSeeds follow the flowers, yes, but I have never grown them from seed: cuttings are so easy! However here's a link that tells how: http://www.gardenershq.com/Calandrinia-rock-purslane.php
DeleteI love this plant...it needs no watering and is hardy...but after a year, some of the "shoots" now have grayish spots...the newer growth is fine. Do I need to treat the ones with gray spots? It is in full sun, and receives very little water.
ReplyDeleteHi John - not sure what those spots are I'm afraid!
Deletei would like to know what is eating mine. they are suppose to be deer and rabbit resistant. thanks
ReplyDeleteMight be slugs or snails, but I have never seen anything bother our plants. You might need to set up a wildlife camera to find out.
DeleteRabbits eat mine. And so do my hens.
DeleteHelp! My gardener's staff came yesterday and cut all of the flowers off from the base of the stems, all of them! They were growing so abundantly in a large pot we would need to gently brush it aside to walk to the front door. I am so sad now and not sure what to do... will the flowers come back this time of year with the cut so short?
ReplyDeleteThey'll come back but it'll take a while - just give them some extra food or water to support new growth.
DeleteI was happy to see the question from Anonymous! My gardener, here in Southern California, did the same thing to my display along the entire side of my home!! I was horrified! I'm glad to see that they will come back, is there a way to encourage faster rebloom??
ReplyDeleteWhy do the leaves turn orange? We have some in the backyard that are doing great! But, the ones in the front yard have orange color on the leaves and have not grown, hardly at all, since planted last year. Any ideas?
ReplyDeleteOrange leaves usually means they need more water. (or yellow means too much sometimes!)
ReplyDeleteIs there any particular reason why some grow and get very large and others.. just don't? I have some that are a little orange, and have not grown, and another that looks great, with green leaves, but hasn't grown much in size.
ReplyDeleteI had transplanted my plant from a large patio pot to ground in an empty space in front of fence. It was looking really good with lots of new sprouting. The last two wks the leaves are yellowing and the centers (new growth) are turning black. I believe my gardener may have turned sprinkler direction? Too much water? What should I do?
ReplyDeleteToo much or too little water is my guess: change the status quo and see what happens :)
DeleteJust bought this BEAUTIFUL plant, but now someone said it is poisonous, is this true? I hope not
ReplyDeleteThe purslane family in general is toxic to dogs (and cats) like so many other plants, but I haven't seen a specific reference to toxicity in this species. If you don't supervise your pets while they're outside, and they like to eat plants (most cats and dogs won't eat it) then avoid this plant.
DeleteHi we just purchased the beautiful Calandrinia it's in a plastic pot. What type on pot do you suggest?This beauty had one flower that would close at night then open around late morning. However, for the last two days the flower has stayed close :(. We have had it for just over a week and only watered it once, the soil due not feel saturated if anything it feels more dry. How should the soil feel, moist?
ReplyDeleteJazPwr8, it depends on your location, but here in zone 9 they are winding up their flowering for the season. You'll see more flowers in about May around here. They like good drainage - don't let them sit in soggy soil, and if the leaves go yellow it's likely too wet.
Deleteours are almost solid purple red in spots. Three years old in very sandy soil. Watering with drip about 9 minutes every four days. Too much water?
ReplyDeleteours are almost all purple and redish color. Watering 9 minutes about 1 time a week. Too much water?
ReplyDeleteWe live in sandy condition on top of a hill in San Diego. Drip watering method so not super distributed.
Commander Cash, that sounds like it needs more water. I might add some fine mulch or compost to the soil so it retains water a bit better. Or appreciate the interesting colors that a drought stressed succulent can develop!
DeleteI need to know if my Calandrinia need direct sunlight to flower. I have them in diffuse sunlight in southern California weather. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIt really is happiest with full sun! If you don't get flowers, and you have a sunnier spot, break off a stem and start a new plant in a sunny place.
DeleteThanks. I did have a few in morning sun and a few in afternoon sun. After my initial question, the morning sun plants have flowered. The afternoon ones not, and diffused sun also no flowers. Is there a difference between morning and afternoon sun? Or is it just that the specific plants (I had fewer in aft sun) did not flower and there is no m/a sun effect?
DeleteDepends on your area - morning sun is less strong in my area - and depends on the hours of full sun. Glad you found a spot your plants like :)
DeleteHi! Just want to start by saying I'm new to plants but I'm so enjoying it, and this page has been really helpful to me! I live in Southern CA and I have my rock purslane planted in a small pot without a hole on the bottom. The plant has been doing well for about 2 months since I purchased it, but now the flowers are wilting and graying. I've been watering it about once a week to a week and a half with fertilizer which, after reading prior comments, I guess may be the issue? Anyway thanks in advance for any help you can give! I'm hoping to blossom from a plant killer to a plant whisperer haha.
ReplyDeleteMy plants which are mature and have flowered beautifully now have red dots on the leaves. What might be causing this and what should I do?
ReplyDeleteMy beautiful plants now have red dots on the leaves. What should I do?
ReplyDelete