Species little hogweed
yellow flowers with green leaves and pink stems

little hogweed

Portulaca oleracea

Little Hogweed (Portulaca oleracea) is an annual herbaceous plant found throughout many parts of the world. It features miniscule yellow flowers and succulent, fleshy leaves that are finger-like and often tinged with purple. Little Hogweed grows quickly and is an excellent option for those looking for a hardy ground cover in areas with full sun exposure. The leaves are known to be slightly bitter but are perfect for adding flavor to salads or stir fries. In some places, Little Hogweed is even used medicinally as a treatment for a variety of skin issues. This little plant is an incredible resource with multiple uses.

Cycle:

Annual

Watering:

Minimum

Propagation:

Seed Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

2 - 11

Flowers:

Orange, yellow, red, pink and white (Cultivars) Flowers

Sun:

Full sun

Soil:

Rocky , gravelly , dry, Well-drained

Fruits:

yellow Fruits In Spring Ready In

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,red,yellow,purple,pink

Growth Rate:

High

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Little hogweed enjoys frequent, light watering. For best results, water this plant twice a week with around 1/4 cup of water each time. Allow the soil to dry out slightly in between waterings, as this plant does not like to sit in overly wet soil. Additionally, it can benefit from a light misting of water if the air is particularly dry. When watering, make sure to apply water directly to the soil and not to the leaves.

sunlight

Little hogweed thrives in sun and should be provided with 6-8 hours of direct sunlight every day for best results. Sunlight should be in the mid-morning to late afternoon range, with a few hours of lightly-screened shade during the hottest afternoon period. This highly tolerant plant can even handle some full-day sun in cooler months when temperatures are moderate. During summer months, provide plentiful morning and evening shade to avoid the plant's leaves from burning or wilting.

pruning

Little hogweed (Portulaca oleracea) should be pruned regularly and lightly throughout the growing season. For best results, pruning should be done in the late spring or early summer, when the plant begins to produce vigorous stems. Pruning should be done in a "haircut" style, lightly removing just the uppermost growth. This helps the plant retain an attractive low, spreading form and encourages branching. Pruning should be done with sharp, clean shears and should leave the base of the plant as intact as possible. If cuts are made too deeply or if too much foliage is removed, the plant may be damaged and will require extra time to recover. To ensure vigorous regrowth, prune little hogweed on a regular schedule of every 2 or 3 weeks throughout its growing period.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Portulaca oleracea typically starts flowering in June.

Harvest Fruit

Harvesting of Portulaca oleracea typically begins in June and continues through August.

Hardiness Map