Controlling Common Purslane: The Prolific Summer Weed

Common purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is a succulent summer annual that forms dense mats in gardens, lawns, and bare soil. Its reddish stems radiate from a central taproot like wheel spokes, and tiny yellow flowers open only in full sun. A single plant can produce 240,000 seeds viable for 5–40 years, making prevention the best strategy.

Management Options

• Cultural: Hand-weed and mulch beds; maintain thick, healthy turf to outcompete it in lawns.
• Pre-emergent: Apply dithiopyr or pendimethalin in spring before germination (soil temps ~60°F).
• Post-emergent: Spot-treat seedlings with 2,4-D; mature plants are harder to kill and may have already set seed.

Edible note: Purslane has a tangy, lemony flavor and is nutritious—but unless you're harvesting it intentionally, treat it as the aggressive weed it is.