Put on a show this summer with portulaca

If you want to make a bit of a statement in your garden this summer, you can’t go past portulaca. This striking plant grows to around 10cm high and produces beautiful flowers with layers of fabric-like petals. It’s perfect for planting in borders, bedding, edging, rock gardens, pots and hanging baskets. And, if you get some in the ground soon, it will keep the show in your garden running all through summer.

Here at Awapuni we stock two different shades of portulaca. Tequila cherry is bright pink and tequila yellow is as the name suggests – yellow. For those wanting to show off more colours in their garden, we also have a mixed bundle available which includes several different shades. Order your portulaca plants from our online shop at www.awapuni.co.nz. Or next time you’re at Bunnings, the Warehouse or your local supermarket, pop one or two Awapuni portulaca bundles in the trolley.

Because portulaca tolerates heat and drought so well, it pays to plant it in full sun. It grows very nicely next to livingstone daisies or gazania as they are all fans of the sun and they all grow to similar heights. Plant each seedling around 25cm apart from the next.

At the nursery we have quite a few hanging baskets hanging in the greenhouses. Portulaca looks lovely when grown in a basket with petunia – particularly varieties like red crystal and primetime violet star. And the great thing about using hanging baskets or planters like the paradise planter is you can move the show of colour around wherever and whenever you want.

Once everything is planted you can expect to see flowers in around four to five weeks. You won’t need to water portulaca very often, but just keep an eye on the soil. If you stick your finger in the soil to about your first knuckle and it’s dry, it pays to give them a bit of a drink.

Lastly, if you want the show to continue all summer, pick off the dead-heads. This will encourage your plants to keep flowering – and it will make your plant look better!

Henri Ham
Awapuni Nurseries
www.awapuni.co.nz

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