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Weed Identification in Nurseries and Landscapes

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Common purslane - Portulaca oleracea L.
Weed Identification in Nurseries and Landscapes > Common purslane
Common purslane seedling Common purslane plant
Common purslane seedling. Common purslane plant.
Common purslane fruit
Common purslane fruit.
Life cycle: Prostrate, mat-forming summer annual.

Leaves: Cotyledons are oblong, hairless and succulent. Cotyledons and young leaves are maroon-tinted on the undersides. Thick, fleshy, succulent leaves are hairless, spatula-shaped and about 1 inch long or less. Leaves are alternate but appear opposite and are often crowded near the stem tips.

Stems: Prostrate, purplish red or green stems have multiple branches that form circular mats. Stems are thick, fleshy, succulent and hairless and up to 20 inches long.

Flowers and fruit: Small, yellow, star-shaped flowers with five petals are produced in the leaf axils, opening only on sunny mornings. Fruit are egg-shaped capsules that split around the middle, scattering many tiny, black, shiny seeds.

Reproduction: Seeds.
The MSU IPM Program maintains this site as an access point to pest management information at MSU. The IPM Program is administered within the Department of Entomology, fueled by research from the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, delivered to citizens through MSU Extension, and proud to be a part of Project GREEEN.
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Updated: 10/17/07