Purslane (Portulaca oleracea): Edible but Invasive Weed

Not to be confused with ornamental purslane sold in nurseries, weedy purslane is a low-growing summer annual found in gardens and orchards nationwide. It thrives in moisture but withstands drought. Fleshy, dark green leaves are edible with a tart, lemony flavor.

Easy to pull or hoe, but stem pieces reroot readily—remove them from the garden. Also remove flowering plants, as they can ripen seed after pulling; a single plant can produce 50,000+ seeds. Control with solarization. For chemical control, use pre-emergence herbicide with oryzalin or pendimethalin.