Pink purslane, Kiss-me-quick
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Portulaca pilosa
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Portulacaceae
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Landscape Uses:
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Wildflower and rock gardens. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
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Availability: |
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Grown by enthusiasts and occasionally by native plant nurseries. |
Description: |
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Small herbaceous wildflower. |
Height: |
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About 1-4 inches in height. Spreading across the ground and forming small patches. |
Growth Rate: |
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Fast. |
Range: |
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Southern United States south to the Monroe County Keys; West Indies, Mexico, Central America and South America. Rare in the Monroe County Keys and perhaps absent from the lower Keys. |
Habitats: |
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Pinelands and open disturbed sites. |
Soils: |
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Moist, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, without humus. |
Nutritional Requirements: |
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Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils. |
Salt Water Tolerance: |
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Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water. |
Salt Wind Tolerance: |
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High; can tolerate moderate amounts of salt wind without significant injury. |
Drought Tolerance: |
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High; does not require any supplemental water once established. |
Light Requirements: |
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Full sun. |
Flower Color: |
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Pink. |
Flower Characteristics: |
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Semi-showy. |
Flowering Season: |
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Spring-fall. |
Fruit: |
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Inconspicuous capsule with tiny black seeds. |
Wildlife and Ecology: |
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Provides food for wildlife. Attracts bee pollinators. |
Horticultural Notes: |
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Can be grown from seed and cuttings. |
Comments: |
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Can be ephemeral or even weedy in the garden. |
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James Johnson, 2014 In habitat, Miramar Pineland Natural Area, Broward County, Florida
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