Common Purslane: How to Identify and Control It
Portulaca oleracea · Summer annual broadleaf
How to identify common purslane
- Thick, fleshy, paddle-shaped leaves
- Smooth reddish stems forming a flat mat
- Tiny yellow flowers that open in morning sun
- Succulent: broken pieces can re-root
Why it shows up
Loves hot, bare, recently disturbed soil in vegetable beds, sidewalk cracks and thin turf. Germinates once soil is warm (roughly 60°F+), and one plant can make many thousands of seeds.
Where it's a problem
- Northeast & Mid-Atlantic (zones 4–8)
- Southeast (zones 7–10)
- Midwest (zones 4–7)
- Great Plains & Texas (zones 3–9)
- Southwest & Mountain (zones 4–10)
- West & Pacific Northwest (zones 3–10 (1–8 in Alaska))
Control methods
1. Cultural (prevention)
- Mulch beds 2–3 in. deep
- Keep turf dense; avoid leaving soil bare in summer
- Limit tilling, which brings seed up
2. Mechanical
- Pull or hoe while small and before flowering
- Remove pulled plants from the bed — they can re-root or ripen seed on the ground
3. Organic options
- Organic mulches and close crop spacing
- Flame weeding works on seedlings
4. Chemical options
Herbicide safety — always follow the label. The label is the law: use only products labeled for your site, turfgrass or crop, and follow rates, timing, weather limits and protective equipment directions exactly. Keep people and pets off treated areas as directed, and check state and local rules. Active ingredients named here are examples from extension guidance, not endorsements; availability varies by state.
- Pre-emergents labeled for purslane (e.g. products containing trifluralin or pendimethalin in ornamentals, where labeled)
- In lawns, broadleaf mixtures with 2,4-D, dicamba or triclopyr; small plants respond best
When to treat common purslane by USDA zone
| USDA zone | Typical timing (from NOAA frost-date medians) |
|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Pre-emergent around Apr 19–May 3 (2–4 weeks before the typical last frost, May 17); spot-treat or pull escapes in early summer |
| Zone 4 | Pre-emergent around Apr 12–Apr 26 (2–4 weeks before the typical last frost, May 10); spot-treat or pull escapes in early summer |
| Zone 5 | Pre-emergent around Apr 5–Apr 19 (2–4 weeks before the typical last frost, May 3); spot-treat or pull escapes in early summer |
| Zone 6 | Pre-emergent around Mar 29–Apr 12 (2–4 weeks before the typical last frost, Apr 26); spot-treat or pull escapes in early summer |
| Zone 7 | Pre-emergent around Mar 14–Mar 28 (2–4 weeks before the typical last frost, Apr 11); spot-treat or pull escapes in early summer |
| Zone 8 | Pre-emergent around Feb 24–Mar 10 (2–4 weeks before the typical last frost, Mar 24); spot-treat or pull escapes in early summer |
| Zone 9 | Pre-emergent around Jan 26–Feb 9 (2–4 weeks before the typical last frost, Feb 23); spot-treat or pull escapes in early summer |
Zones 10–11 (frost rare): follow germination flushes after rains; pre-emergents in late summer/fall for winter weeds and late winter for summer weeds. Find your exact frost dates with the ZIP planner. Soil temperature and the product label take priority over the calendar.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get rid of common purslane naturally?
Start with cultural and mechanical controls: Mulch beds 2–3 in. deep; Keep turf dense; avoid leaving soil bare in summer; Limit tilling, which brings seed up; Pull or hoe while small and before flowering; Remove pulled plants from the bed — they can re-root or ripen seed on the ground.
What does common purslane look like?
Thick, fleshy, paddle-shaped leaves; Smooth reddish stems forming a flat mat; Tiny yellow flowers that open in morning sun; Succulent: broken pieces can re-root.
When is the best time to treat common purslane?
Prevent it with a pre-emergent applied 2–4 weeks before your average last spring frost, when soil reaches about 55°F.
Where is common purslane a problem in the US?
Common Purslane is common in: Northeast & Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest, Great Plains & Texas, Southwest & Mountain, West & Pacific Northwest.
Sources & further reading
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Portulaca oleracea
- UC IPM (University of California) weed gallery: weed photo gallery
- Doohan et al. (2012). Crop Response and Control of Common Purslane (Portulaca oleraceae) and Prostrate Pigweed (Amaranthus blitoides) in Green Onion with Oxyfluorfen. Weed Technology. doi:10.1614/wt-d-12-00032.1
- Herbicide examples are typical active ingredients named in university extension guides; products and registrations vary by state. See your state Cooperative Extension weed-control guide.
Related weeds in the same regions
Crabgrass · Dandelion · White Clover · Field Bindweed · Yellow Nutsedge · Common Chickweed · Broadleaf Plantain · Creeping Charlie (Ground Ivy) · All 27 weeds
Planning a garden? See planting calendars by state & zone.