Plant Problem Diagnostic
How to Identify and Control Common Purslane
The short answer
Common purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is a summer annual with smooth, red or pink fleshy stems that lie flat and radiate from a central rooting point, plus thick, succulent, oblong leaves up to about 1.5 inches long and small yellow flowers. It germinates when soils are warm.
The catch with physical control is that purslane can regenerate from stem fragments, so hoeing can spread it if pieces are left behind. Remove whole plants and rake up the debris before they set seed, since a single plant can produce enormous numbers of long-lived seeds.
How to identify common purslane
- Prostrate summer annual radiating from a central root
- Smooth, reddish, fleshy (succulent) stems
- Thick, glossy, oblong leaves up to about 1.5 inches
- Small yellow flowers
- Appears in warm-season conditions
Cultural and physical control
Because purslane reroots from stem fragments, pull whole plants and remove the debris from the site rather than leaving cut pieces on moist soil. Weed early while plants are small and before they seed, and use mulch and dense planting to shade out germinating seedlings. Prevention matters because it is such a prolific seeder.
When to escalate
If purslane keeps returning from the seedbank or fragments despite diligent hand-weeding, you may need additional measures. For chemical control options and timing suited to your area, consult your county Extension office.
→ For chemical control options, contact your local county Extension office; note purslane can regrow from stem pieces left on the soil.
Sources
Reviewed 2026-07-18. We cite university Extension, government, and established horticultural sources — and never invent pesticide rates or dangerous treatments.
- Penn State Extension — Common Purslane — Summer annual, red smooth succulent stems from central rooting point, thick succulent leaves, yellow flowers, regenerates from stem fragments, prolific seeder
- UC IPM — Common Purslane — Prostrate summer annual, hoeing can spread it via regenerating fragments, remove plants before seed set, prevention is key