Farm

Purslane: My Unexpected New Favorite Plant

On August 25, 2022 by

Have you ever heard of purslane? I didn’t know anything about it until this spring, but now I can’t get enough of it.

I first came across it while weeding in our veggie garden. Every once in a while I’d see a tiny plant that looked like a succulent. I had a feeling it wasn’t just another weed. So I looked it up, and found out it was an annual succulent called purslane. After that, I saved each little piece of it that I could, and transplanted it to a new spot where I could enjoy its bright green leaves and happy yellow flowers.

Here are the top 3 reasons why purslane has quickly become one of my favorite plants:

1. It’s Super Hardy

If you have a place where nothing seems to grow but weeds, try planting some purslane there. It’s not picky, and does well in poor soil. I have put a bunch of it in pots, used some to fill in a bare spot in our herb garden, and even threw some in an old stump. All of it has thrived. It especially loves sunny spots and doesn’t mind the hot afternoon sun at all.

It can even be used as a groundcover, as it is really hardy. (Case in point: my husband drove over some with the tractor and it’s still alive and well.)

2. It’s Edible!

You can eat the leaves, stems, and even the flower buds raw or cooked. It contains vitamin C and Omega-3 fatty acids. This makes it an awesome plant to have growing in your garden alongside your other veggies. When you’re picking cucumbers and tomatoes for a salad, snip off some purslane and throw it in the mix. The more I learn about this plant, the more fascinated I become. It really is a superfood!

3. Saving Seeds Is Easy

After the cute little yellow flowers bloom, dark pods form in their place. Each pod is packed with teeny tiny seeds. Since purslane is an annual, I’m just emptying the pods when I see them, and saving the seeds to plant next year.

So there you have it, the top 3 reasons why I love purslane- and why I think you will, too!

Have you ever grown purslane before, or found it growing somewhere on your property? Drop a comment below!

Remember you can follow along with our family’s day to day life on the homestead over here on Instagram @iveyshireblog.

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