Jaci Dawn

“IF YOU SEE THIS PLANT IN YOUR GARDEN”

That’s the heading for a popular advertisement for purslane (Portulaca oleracea). It goes on to advise the reader to keep the plant and nurture it’s existence.

I say:

PULL IT.

I see this herbal remedies ad frequently that touts the benefits of purslane, some of which are listed below (per an AI summary on the Interwebs):

“Purslane is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins A, C, and E, and essential minerals like magnesium and calcium, making it beneficial for heart health, reducing inflammation, and supporting overall well-being. Additionally, it may help manage blood sugar levels and promote digestive health. Health Benefits * Heart Health * Blood Sugar Management * Digestive Health * Anti-Inflammatory Properties * Antioxidant Protection“

Yada Yada Yada. Etc., etc. etc.

There are not enough health benefits to purslane to justify an entire garden buried in this pernicious weed. Purslane is a weed.

I spent three days pulling this sucker (sucker of water) out of the raised beds in our vegetable garden. It takes over in a matter of weeks, or even days, covering every visible speck of open ground the vegetables are not planted in. It is worse than the grass I battle in my flower beds.

No, I take that back: purslane is relatively easy to pull out of the ground whereas the grass grows on runners and comes back if you leave so much as a quarter of an inch of the plant in the soil. Purslane doesn’t do that, but it is just as nasty a weed as grass in every other aspect.

If you want to save some for your salad, go for it. My advice is: pull it, kill it, and don’t allow it to multiply. There are a lot of other herbs out there that provide the same benefits and don’t take over the garden. Grow those.

Just my two-cents’ worth of gardening advice. You’re welcome.