Purslane, a powerhouse ‘weed’

Purslane, Portulaca oleracea, is one of the 'weeds' I have struggled to grow in my garden. This summer it is thriving. I have often admired vigorous purslane growing in cracks in footpaths and poor looking soil and wondered why I've had such difficulty with it This year it has outdone itself. I have been enjoying picking it for salads.

So, after such a poor show all these years, why would I persevere?

This Indian native is a succulent that is a nutrient dense powerhouse. Its fleshy spoon-shaped leaves leave a cooling sensation and it has a tangy kind of flavour to offset many of the salad plants I grow. I have yet to try it cooked in an omelette or as a vegetable.

Purslane is naturally rich in:

🌱 Omega-3, in fact the first time someone mentioned it to me was when my bestie told me her parents were growing it to try and increase Omegas in their hen's eggs.

🌱 Beta-carotene, yes, even green and yellow veges can have high levels of this!

🌱 Vitamins A, E and C some minerals like Magnesium and antioxidants

Plant ID is important here as some people confuse it with Hairy-Stemmed Spurge (Euphorbia vermiculata) but they are easily distinguished as spurge as a milky sap.