Plotwright
Home
Moss rose
Habit (mature) · Rjcastillo / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Limited coverage
Moss rose
Portulaca grandiflora
A low, mat-forming succulent annual from Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, grown for its ruffled, rose-like flowers above clusters of cylindrical, fleshy leaves on reddish stems. From June to frost it carries 1-inch single, semi-double, or double blooms in red, rose, orange, yellow, or white that open in sun and close on cloudy or rainy days. Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder rates it for poor, dry, well-drained soils in full sun, where its drought tolerance lets it thrive in hot spots that defeat many other plants.
Review: Source-backed
Climate fit: moderate (63/100)
Border
Filler
Container
Light
Full sun
Water
Low water
Mature size
3-9" tall · 8" apart
Lifecycle
True annual (one season)
Native in Illinois
No
Related products
Sponsored
Winter protection and storage
Frost cloth, plant covers, bulb/tuber storage supplies, burlap, and cold frames.
Search winter protection and storage on Amazon
Container growing
Grow bags, planters, potting mix, saucers, casters, and container irrigation.
Search container growing on Amazon
Seed starting
Trays, cells, humidity domes, heat mats, grow lights, and seed-starting mix.
Search seed starting on Amazon
Drainage and aeration
Perlite, pumice, raised-bed mix, aerators, and drainage-focused containers.
Search drainage and aeration on Amazon
Transplanting and establishment
Trowels, transplant spades, starter fertilizer, root stimulators, and watering bags.
Search transplanting and establishment on Amazon
Direct sowing
Seeders, row markers, labels, soil thermometers, and light row cover.
Search direct sowing on Amazon
Plotwright may earn a commission from purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Grown as an ornamental; Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder does not list any culinary use.
Cold hardiness
Future
These values are location-based: this location's current hardiness is the baseline, and the 2050 value is a projected future climate for this same location.
Now
Zone 6b
USDA
Published baseline for this location from 1991-2020.
Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer
Well-suited
2050
Zone 7a
Plotwright
Projected zone for this same location in 2050 (2041-2070) using SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry).
Well-suited
In plain terms: This location is in Zone 6b today. Its hardiness profile is cold winters, and coldest nights are typically around -3°F. By 2050, the projected hardiness zone is Zone 7a based on SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry). That is a +0.5-zone shift from Zone 6b to Zone 7a by 2050.
Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.
Heat tolerance
Future
Heat tolerance values are location-based too: heat days today are observed at this site, and the 2050 value projects this same location under a future climate.
Loading AHS heat-zone data for this location...
Sources & citations
Cite this page
For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.
Plotwright. (2026, May 17). Moss rose (Portulaca grandiflora). Retrieved 2026, June 10, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/moss-rose
Sources for every fact
Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited18 source-backed.
Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder
Botanical research database
Backs 17 fields
Identity
Summary
Plant type
Light
Moisture
Hardiness
Heat zone
Size
Spacing
Habit
Design roles
Seasonal interest
Growth stages
Lifecycle
Regional guidance
Success tips
Designer notes
Wikimedia Commons
Photo · CC BY-SA 3.0
Backs 1 field
Image
Community photos
The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.
Plotwright
Climate-aware plant planning — every plant checked against your zone now and in 2050.
support@arteractive.co
© 2026 Plotwright