Herb. No. 116 · Portulacaceae
A world weed of hot, packed ground — Mediterranean origin, now cosmopolitan.
Native · Europe · West Asia · Africa
Native Also grownNow a garden plant worldwide
LegalGentleplant
Purslane
Portulaca oleracea
The lemony succulent in the cracks of the driveway — a salad weed richer in omega-3 than most garden greens.
Purslane is a world weed with a Greek, Mexican, Indian, and Middle Eastern kitchen record. The paddles are lemony, mucilaginous, and surprisingly high in plant omega-3s. Culinary amounts are food. It self-sows whether you invite it or not. Skip patches that were sprayed.
Flavor
Lemon, cucumber, a little okra-slime. Pleasant cold, dull if overcooked.
Parts used
Leaf · Stem · Tips
Helpful
- Free if you stop weeding it
- Truly a food
Cautions
- Sprayed driveways
- Oxalates in huge daily salads