Portulaca

Portulaca comes in so many colors and flower types: singles, doubles, ruffles. Only one variety resides in my garden and it loves to spend the fall, spring and winter in a hanging basket. At the moment, it shares space with a blue balloon flower, but I will mass my balloon flowers in one spot this summer.

I found this particular portulaca at a local nursery two years ago. I've not seen it for sale since then. I almost lost it the first year because I bought it at the end of the blooming season. I had it hanging on a branch of a Eucalyptus tree so it didn't get much sun. The next spring, the pot was dead, but I happened to look down and there was this little sprig of portulaca blooming. I was thrilled because, as you can see from the picture, it's a brilliant shade of rose. What you can't tell is that it's fluorescent.

It is simply a stunning flower. The basket is growing fuller this year. I hope to take cuttings this spring to increase my stash. Can't you just imagine how that dazzling rose flower would look next to the purple heliotrope?.

This low, spreading annual prefers full sun and can be grown everywhere. It works wonderfully in a border or a rock garden, as edging or as a groundcover. This plant self-sows easily, as well as with cuttings. Keep a weather eye out for aphids.

Good News! A month after writing the above, I actually found two pots of this gorgeous plant at our local WalMart. I shop everywhere for my plants. You'd be amazed at what you can find at a WalMart or KMart if you go poking around!