Portulaca Planting Guide

June

portulaca this June — what to know

Some notes on portulaca care that hold up no matter where you garden — then check your zone for specifics.

Sun full sun

Water low

Days to harvest 50–70

Spacing 8″

How to water portulaca
Mulch heavily around portulaca to hold soil moisture without watering more often.
Where to put portulaca
South-facing beds are ideal for portulaca. Shade from nearby trees or fences costs real production.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant portulaca. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

Get portulaca planting dates for your county →

Portulaca (Portulaca grandiflora), commonly called moss rose, is a succulent- stemmed annual built for hot, dry, low-fertility conditions where other flowers fail. Its silky, rose-like blooms open in full sun and close at night or on cloudy days. Excellent for slopes, rock gardens, containers, and parking-strip plantings where irrigation is limited. One of the easiest annuals for neglect- proof summer color.

Portulaca grandiflora · Flower · Portulacaceae family · 50–70 days to maturity

Annual Blooms in Summer Pollinator-friendly Deer-resistant

Why it matters: If you're just starting a flower garden in your area, Portulaca is a forgiving first pick. It tolerates imperfect soil, mild drought, and the occasional missed watering. The reward: weeks (sometimes months) of continuous color.

Get Your Personalized Portulaca Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Portulaca?

Zone Compatibility for Portulaca Zones 3a – 11b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Bloom
Zone 3a	Apr 3	Jun 5	Jun 5	Jul 24 – Sep 18
Zone 3b	Mar 29	May 31	May 31	Jul 19 – Sep 20
Zone 4a	Mar 25	May 20	May 20	Jul 8 – Sep 16
Zone 4b	Mar 27	May 15	May 15	Jul 3 – Sep 18
Zone 5a	Mar 21	May 9	May 9	Jun 27 – Sep 26
Zone 5b	Mar 14	Apr 25	Apr 25	Jun 13 – Sep 19
Zone 6a	Mar 6	Apr 17	Apr 17	Jun 5 – Sep 18
Zone 6b	Feb 27	Apr 10	Apr 10	May 29 – Sep 18
Zone 7a	Feb 25	Mar 25	Mar 25	May 13 – Sep 9
Zone 7b	Feb 18	Mar 18	Mar 18	May 6 – Sep 16
Zone 8a	Feb 8	Mar 1	Mar 1	Apr 19 – Sep 13
Zone 8b	Jan 28	Feb 11	Feb 11	Apr 1 – Sep 9
Zone 9a	Jan 13	Jan 27	Jan 27	Mar 17 – Sep 22
Zone 9b	Dec 28	Jan 4	Jan 4	Feb 22 – Sep 13
Zone 10a	Dec 4	Nov 27	Nov 27	Jan 15 – Aug 20
Zone 10b	Dec 4	Nov 20	Nov 20	Jan 8 – Aug 27
Zone 11a	Dec 4	Nov 6	Nov 6	Dec 25 – Sep 10
Zone 11b	Dec 4	Oct 30	Oct 30	Dec 18 – Sep 17

How to Plant Portulaca

Between Plants

10"

Between Rows

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Low — drought tolerant

Drought tolerant — water only when soil is dry 2" deep.

🧪 Soil pH

5.5 – 7

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 3a – 11b

📅 Days to Maturity

50–70 days

Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.

👪 Plant Family

Portulacaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Portulacaceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Portulaca

Portulaca matures in just 50–70 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 4 successive plantings by sowing every 5.7 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Portulaca

✅ Good Companions

Marigolds Celosia Vinca Zinnias

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Portulaca

Direct-sow after last frost once soil warms to 65°F, or start indoors 4–6 weeks before last frost. Seed is tiny — surface sow and do not cover. Thin to proper spacing after germination. Thrives in poor, well-drained soil; rich or wet soil produces lush foliage but fewer blooms. No deadheading required — plants are self-cleaning. Double-flowered varieties hold blooms open longer in overcast conditions.

Saving Portulaca Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Reader favourite

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

$27 $157 value

Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant

Save a lifetime of seed money →

Portulaca by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Portulaca?

Portulaca (Portulaca grandiflora) takes 50 to 70 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Portulaca grow in?

Portulaca can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Portulaca need?

Growing Portulaca requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Low — drought tolerant, and soil pH of 5.5 to 7.