Weed of the Week: Common Purslane
Weed of the Week: Common Purslane
Two good terms for describing common purslane (include flat and fleshy. The plants grow flat against the ground, and the leaves are thick and fleshy. These weeds can take the heat of summer and grow in dry, compact soils…it’s no wonder that this weed often grows along with crabgrass, since they both thrive in those growing conditions.
When growing in gardens that are regularly irrigated, purslane can grow taller and up to three feet wide. All stems originate at a central taproot, making this plant easy to pull out of the ground. Purslane is an annual, so there is no need to use an herbicide that kills the roots. In addition to pulling, the plant is easily cut with a hoe.
This weed is edible, and higher in Vitamin A than many other vegetables. It is a high-oxalate food, so not for people prone to kidney stones.
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Not easy to get rid of. Roots grow deep and laterally, break easy, love to grow into the grass roots. There is nothing good or easy about this weed.
No weed is easy…they are designed for survival! This one is easier to hoe than many others, however, and there are many good things about this plant. Numerous types of flies, bees, and beetles visit purslane flowers, and songbirds eat the seeds. Many people enjoy the leaves in salads, and foragers praise the plant for many reasons: https://backyardforager.com/purslane-portulaca-oleracea-verdolagas/