Portulaca (Moss Rose) in Zone 4a & 4b

Portulaca grandiflora

When to plant portulaca (moss rose) in zone 4b

Zones 4a and 4b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.

Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Portulaca (Moss Rose) tolerates either.

Start indoors	Mar 27–Apr 3
Direct sow / transplant outside	May 22–May 29
Estimated bloom	Jul 21–Jul 28 (~60 days after planting)

Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 4-8 in.

Portulaca (moss rose) is native to hot, dry plains in South America, and it shows: this is a good summer annual for the driest, sunniest, most neglected corner of the garden, not a plant that needs coddling. It forms a succulent, 4- to 8-inch mat studded with rose-like or single cup blooms in bright pink, orange, yellow, red, or white.

How portulaca (moss rose) fits zone 4's season

Zone 4b's frost-free window runs about 128 days, from May 15 to September 20. Portulaca (Moss Rose) needs about 60 days from sowing to first harvest.

Good companions

No standout companions recorded yet for Portulaca (Moss Rose).

Where to buy portulaca seeds

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