Planting and Growing the Moss Rose

The moss rose is also known as the solar plant, rose moss, portulaca, or botanically as Portulaca grandiflora. It is an annual semi-succulent plant that is drought tolerant and makes a nice container plant. There are not many succulent-type plants that are annuals, and this is a lovely rare example.

The Portulaca grandiflora has many branches and somewhat fleshy leaves and stems. It will grow to six inches high and twelve inches wide. Bright green leaves have pointed tips and are around one inch in length.

Flowers are one inch wide and rose-like in appearance. The blooms will last throughout the summer and are in the colors orange, yellow, pink, red, and white. They will be open only in the sunlight and not during overcast cloudy days or the evenings.

Cultivars of Moss Rose

There are many different types of moss rose available on the commercial market. One variety, ‘Sundance’, has beautiful double bloom flowers that are two inches wide.

Always check the cultivar to determine the difference that a specific variety has over another. For a longer-lasting flower, try ‘Afternoon Delight’ which will stay in open bloom longer than other varieties. For a special effect, add different varieties of moss rose into the garden.

Portulaca grandiflora will grow fine in well-drained soils whether sandy or poor.

Growing a Moss Rose

Lighting will need to be full sun locations in the landscape. The more sun the plant gets the longer the blooms will last and the better the display.

Water the moss rose regularly even though they are drought resistant. It needs watering from below or at the soil line, as overhead watering will hurt the blooms.

It will be hardy in USDA hardiness zones of five through eleven. To propagate, use seed. It may self-seed in the warmer areas of the map but if not, mix with sand so the dispersing of the tiny seeds is easier.

Tips for Planting

Moss roses can be planted as seedlings or from seed. If they’re started from seed, they need to have a chilling period for a week in the refrigerator. When the seeds are planted, they should be totally covered as they only sprout in total darkness.

This annual will re-seed by itself; however, the plants don’t always come true from cultivar seeds. It’s generally advised to either buy new seeds every year and start over or purchase more seedlings from a local nursery. When the moss roses become leggy in the late summer, cut them back a few inches to get another burst of blooms in the fall.

At the end of the growing season, which is around late fall for the moss rose, they are best removed and either replanted with new seedlings or seeds the next season or they may actually re-seed on their own. Self-seeding can’t be relied upon, however, because often portulaca doesn’t come back true from seed.

In the warmest climates, gardeners are often tempted to leave them growing where they are and just cut them back: however, this rarely works out to the gardener’s satisfaction. These annuals tend to look weedy in this situation even if they do manage to stay alive.

Moss Rose in the Landscape

This is an ideal plant for a container or hanging basket as it will cascade down the basket somewhat, making for a beautiful display. It can be in rock gardens, desert gardens, or any water-wise display. It can grow in rock wall cracks or as edging to a garden display.

Moss rose is easy to grow with a wide range of soil types that it is adaptable to. For an interesting display throughout the summer months, this annual plant makes a nice addition to any rock or desert garden.