Little Hogweed
Portulaca oleracea
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Aldabra, Algeria, Angola, Ascension, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Canary Is., Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chagos Archipelago, Comoros, Congo, Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, DR Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., Gulf States, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Kriti, Krym, Kuwait, Lebanon-Syria, Liberia, Libya, Madeira, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique Channel Is., Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, North Caucasus, NW. Balkan Pen., Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Réunion, Romania, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sicilia, Sierra Leone, Sinai, Socotra, Somalia, Spain, St.Helena, Sudan-South Sudan, Switzerland, Tanzania, Togo, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Uganda, Yemen
Bobjgalindo
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Portulacaceae
- Genus:
- Portulaca
- Species:
- Portulaca oleracea
- USDA Symbol:
- POOL
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 30 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
- Food Forest:
- Contains edible parts
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Bedstraw Hawk-moth (Hyles gallii), beet webworm moth (Spoladea recurvalis), Black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon), darksided cutworm (Euxoa messoria), Euxoa tessellata, Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), Glover's Silkworm Moth (Euscirrhopterus gloveri), Green Cutworm (Anicla infecta), Heliodines bella, nutmeg (Discestra trifolii), rascal dart moth (Agrotis malefida), Southern armyworm (Spodoptera eridania), Variegated cutworm (Peridroma saucia), White-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- poor, sandy, well-drained soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in disturbed soils and open areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination; surface sow and do not cover. Germinates readily in warm soil temperatures above 70°F.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C. Germinates within 3 months.