Gardeners consider purslane , like dandelion greens and mouse ear , either the hero or the scoundrel of the landscape . Often deal a lasting weed by American homeowner , in other region of the domain purslane is eaten as a alimental herbaceous plant or salad gullible – or even as a spinach - like cooking veggie . The low - develop plant , which has creeping crimson stems and succulent stems and leaf , formulate a Master of Arts in Teaching - like growing riding habit after just a year or two .
Con: Determined Weed
Although technically an annual works , purslane persists in most gardens because of its power to localize as many as 240,000 seeds per plant , often exit those seed behind when nurseryman pull up the parent plant . These cum are capable of germinating as long as 40 years afterwards , notes the University of California ’s Integrated Pest Management curriculum . To make matters spoilt , purslane ’s growing habit during the growing season is a smartly open one . " A few scattered plants in the first class can become an almost solid rug of purslane the following year , " the program ’s website says . Left uncurbed , purslane invades lawns and garden , crowding out more desirable plants .
Con: Known Associates
While purslane may be alimentary and even lack poisonous look - alikes , it has been known to fraternize with a poisonous plant , according to wild foods expert Steve Brill . " Spurge , which is poisonous , sometimes grow with purslane , " Brill warns . " Although the two plants do n’t nearly resemble one another , learn out that you do n’t carelessly include any spurge in your salad . " Spurge has long , string - corresponding bow and ooze out a white sap , while purslane has thick , fleshy stems and hold no sap .
Pro: Culinary History
Purslane ’s botanical name , Portulaca oleracea , yield grounds to its late veneration as an eatable intellectual nourishment ; " oleracea " means " rust as a cultivated herbaceous plant . " aboriginal to Persia and India , the plant is trust to have been an edible crop in Europe for 2,000 eld , harmonize to Brill . By deliberately growing purslane in the veg patch , gardeners can take a diachronic and cultural flair to their own tables .
Pro: Nutrition
Purdue University commend purslane as an alternative crop because of its high amount of omega-3 butterball oils , standardized to that bump in fat Pisces or fish oil capsule . These healthy fats , much in demand by health - witting consumer , aid control high cholesterin and fondness disease . The industrial plant also contains Fe , genus Beta provitamin A , vitamin B2 , vitamin C and Ca , Brill take note .
Pro: Cooking Versatility
well-to-do to reap and to prepare , purslane ’s stamp leave and halt need only laundry and rocky chop before adding to salads . Brill also uses the wild crop to inspissate soups and to add nutrition to casseroles . He even urge pickling the succulent stem for an strange relish .
Pro: Ground Cover and Living Mulch
Purslane ’s lusterlessness - similar growing habit get it a honest alternative to lawn or other ground covers , peculiarly for the homeowner focus on edible landscaping . A written report conducted by the University of Connecticut concluded that the plant also worked in effect at organically controlling weeds in Brassica oleracea italica patches . By broadcasting purslane seed before transplanting Brassica oleracea italica seedling , researchers find out that purslane acted as a " hold up mulch , " comparable to chemical gage control condition and more expensive mulch , such as black plastic .
