jump to navigation

my mom called this plant moss rose July 10, 2008

Posted by Sandy in a small garden in maine, photographs.
Tags: ,
trackback

mossrose
When I small my mom had lots of portulaca around the yard. She always called it moss rose, and I do like that, it is a pretteir name. I usually plant it between the drive and walk, a place that is very dry, and because it is close to wood, I don’t want to put water. Usually, I start my own see–last year a fancy double flower that was nice, but not many colors showed up. This year, I forgot to start the seeds so I picked up a 99¢ six-pack at Walmart. Since the plants have started blooming, I have been snapping photos of all the colors and shades of colors that I am getting. Most of them are above, but wouldn’t you know, after putting this together, I went to mail a letter and found the softest shade of yellow blooming. I love that very light pink. I am going to try to save the seeds from that flower to see if I isolate that color  to grow next year.

Comments»

1. layanee - July 10, 2008

Sandy: Loved your trip and the portulaca aka moss rose is an often overlooked annual isn’t it! I will have to plant some next year. Thanks for the reminder of its’ bright but tough beauty.

2. Laurie - July 10, 2008

When I worked in a local greenhouse, many of the people called it Moss Rose and I remember when I first started working there I had no idea what they meant…and then they said, portulaca.

3. mr_subjunctive - July 10, 2008

A moss rose by any other name would look as awesome, I say.

4. Nancy Bond - July 10, 2008

I’ve always known it as moss rose, too. :) It’s a beautiful little plant and a prolific bloomer! Your colours are beautiful.

5. Amy - July 10, 2008

These are gorgeous - I just love the colours.

6. Terra Hangen - July 10, 2008

Like you, I prefer the name moss rose. The colors of these are so pretty. I am impressed that you sometimes grow them from seed.

7. Liza Lee Miller - July 10, 2008

Those flowers are so beautiful. Lovely. Wonder if it will grow here. :)

8. Lynne - July 10, 2008

They’re moss roses to me too and I grow them every year.

9. Dee/reddirtramblings - July 11, 2008

Moss rose or portulaca is a happy plant in containers for me. It reminds me of childhood too and makes me smile. Thanks.~~Dee

10. Mary - July 13, 2008

My Mom called them Mexican Roses or Portulacas. I love them!

11. nikkipolani - July 14, 2008

What lovely colors you’ve gotten! Love all these little portraits of them.

12. Quietpaths - July 16, 2008

Oh yes, my Mom had many of these around - they don’t require a lot of water. She calls them Moss Roses too. Beautiful colors you have.

13. wayne in plano - July 24, 2008

We called them rose moss and I love them. They make beautiful containers and gosh do they bloom. I buy a flat or two each spring to plant my containers. You can then break them off and put right in the soil. The little sprigs will blooom almost immediately. I take several medium pots and plant only one color in each from the cuttings and within a few weeks they are full and blooming.

14. Sandy - July 25, 2008

Thanks wayne for the info. I think I will try that, too!