I'm in Zone 7A in NE America, and my husband is questioning whether purslane is really that bad. He thinks it's a beautiful ground cover that's thriving in our garden and even climbing onto our bluestone path. I can see the appeal, but I have other plants like sunflowers, sages, salvia, rudbeckia, and hydrangeas growing in the same area, and I'm worried about the impact of purslane on them. It seems to be considered a weed around here. What's the consensus? Can purslane negatively affect my other plants? Thanks in advance for your help!
3 Answers
I see your point! For me, it’s not much of a problem; I even grow a few types of purslane deliberately. I think it doesn't consume much in terms of resources, and it can make a nice mulch for vegetable plants. However, I can understand the concern about aesthetics in flower pots and beds.
Yeah, purslane is generally considered a noxious weed, and it can definitely harm your other plants by competing for nutrients, space, water, and light. The level of damage it does really depends on how much you have growing and the climate. Some people are starting to hype up purslane as a superfood, but that shouldn’t mean we want it taking over our gardens. If you like it, sure, you can eat it, but I wouldn’t actively grow it alongside other plants. Good luck keeping it in check!
Just a heads-up, purslane can be pretty aggressive! One plant can produce around 240,000 seeds, and those seeds can stay viable for literally decades. It's one of the toughest weeds to control in my own yard, so I'd keep an eye on it!