Purslane 140MM

I am a dense and compact ground cover with fleshy green leaves growing off reddish stems. Modern cultivars produce very showy blooms in a range of very bright colours up to 40mm in diameter. Depending on the cultivar my flowers are yellow, pink, red, orange and many shades in between. I can flower all year in the right conditions. The wild form, native to all of mainland Australia, has small yellow flowers. I am particularly hardy and thrive in even the poorest soils and dry conditions. I have a very high tolerance for salty soils and can reduce soil salinity with the right planting regime. I am edible, either cooked or raw, with a slightly sour and salty taste making me an excellent addition to a range of dishes. I have been a staple in many cuisines over millennia including in Australia by indigenous peoples and early settlers. My seeds can be gound into flour. I am a common stock feed in some countries. As a dense groundcover I am a good choice for pots, hanging baskets and other container planting. I am sufficiently dense that I outperform many weeds and can be used as a living mulch making me useful in a number of garden styles.