Garden and Flowers

SUN PLANT

Nearly all succulents are perennials. They store water in their thick, fleshy leaves to enable them to survive the dry seasons. The sun plant does the same, but this species from central South America is definitely an annual. Sow this cheerful groundcover indoors in March-April, or outdoors in loose soil in a really warm spot from mid-May onwards. Sow the seeds thinly and don’t cover them, as they need light in order to germinate. The plants may flower from June until far into September. They are also very useful in containers and hanging baskets.

The double flowers of Portulaca grandiflora ‘Kariba Mix’ show the entire range of colors displayed by the sun plant: white, yellow, pink to red and every imaginable shade in between. The flowers belonging to the mixture are double and resemble roses.

Portulaca grandiflora (Moss-rose Purslane or Moss-rose), is a flowering plant in the family Portulacaceae, native to Argentina, southern Brazil, and Uruguay. It is also seen in the South Asia. In Bangladesh, it is called “Time Fuul”. “Time Fuul” means “Time Flower”. Because, the flower has a specific time to bloom. It is a small but fast-growing annual plant growing to 30 cm tall, though usually less. The leaves are thick and fleshy, up to 2.5 cm long, arranged alternately or in small clusters. The flowers are 2.5–3 cm diameter with five petals, variably red, orange, pink, white, and yellow.