Rock purslane

Cistanthe grandiflora

Description

Rock purslane is a small mounding succulent with thick blue-green foliage that grows to 12 in. high and spreads 2-3 ft. across. Colorful and intense purple-magenta flowers to 2 in. dia. develop on flexible stems from mid to late spring and intermittently into summer.

Native to Chile, Rock purslane belongs to a small group of succulents with colorful flowers and a tolerance for arid conditions. It is the only species commonly found in cultivation in California where it is a popular accent plant in rock gardens and among other succulents. Both foliage and flowers offer a contrasting character to most plants, particularly with its intense purple-magenta flowers.

This is a short-lived perennial that grows well for 2-3 years. It does best in well-drained soils and away from the hottest sun. It flowers best with regular water through the end of spring and less during summer.

Plant Type: Succulent
Foliage Character: Succulent, Evergreen
Habit: Compact, Spreading, Mounding
Growth Rate: Short-lived, Moderate
Foliage Color: Pale green, Blue green
Flower Color: Magenta
Flower Season: Summer, Spring
Soil Adaptations: Well-draining soil
Exposure Adaptations: Morning sun, Heat, Filtered or indirect sunlight, Drought, All day sun
Function: Rock gardens, Residential spaces, Raised planters, Near pools and water features, Grouped, Foliage accent plant, Flowering accent plant, Container plant, Borders
Height: 12 in.
Width: 2 ft. – 3 ft.

Watering Schedule: Low 2

For most situations, we recommend watering deeply every 2 weeks after establishment.

Learn how to apply this watering schedule to your landscape on our How to water waterwise and California native plants page.

Important Notes

These are general guidelines. Always observe and adjust as necessary for your landscape.
If it rains over 1” you will likely not need to water for at least another two weeks. Before watering again, check the soil. It should be significantly dry at least 4” below the soil surface before watering.
To save water, in many cases you can go longer in between waterings during the winter, often up to 3-4 weeks between watering for well-established plants. Two weeks after watering, check the soil approximately 4” below the surface. If it is still significantly moist, you can wait longer before watering again.
In most cases, if you have a “smart timer” or weather sensitive irrigation controller, you may use these features to save some water in in the fall and winter. If you are using automatic weather adjusting functions, continue to allow the timer to run every two weeks. It will adjust the number of minutes it runs to account for the cooler weather.
It is important to group plants with the same water needs together in the landscape to avoid needing to over or under water plants when running your irrigation system.

Rock purslane

Description

Watering Schedule: Low 2

Important Notes

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Rock purslane

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