Planting moss rose is gorgeous way to fill in any gaps in your outdoor space that were left by spring blooms. Moss rose will grow over the bulbs without suffocating them or causing them to rot.
Moss rose compliment flowers that also flourish in hot, dry, sunny locations. Dusy miller and zinnias look beautiful in your garden bordered by moss rose.
So, what is moss rose?
Botanical name: Portulaca grandiflora
It is a variety of succulent with an annual flowers native to South America that blooms in colors of white, orange, yellow, and red from early summer to the first frost.
Moss rose plants grow between 3 and 8 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide.
These plants will thrive in hardiness zones 2 through 11.
Growing Moss Roses From Seeds
The seeds are very small and need light to germinate, so it’s important that you do not over-sow!
You can start the seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks in a container before your last frost date for earlier flowers, or wait and plant them in the ground after the last frost when the soil is warming. The seeds take approximately two weeks to germinate in temperatures of 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Be aware that these plants can reproduce on their own!
Light
These plants need between six and eight hours of full sun to properly grow and bloom.
Fun Fact: The flowers close at night and on cloudy days!
Soil
Moss rose needs well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5 to 7. I recommend that you grow your moss rose in containers if the soil in your garden is made up of mostly clay.
Pruning
Trim and fertilize with a balanced flower fertilizer in July to prolong blooming!
Common Pests
Aphids may become a problem, especially in the spring. You can wipe or spray your plants with a solution of water and a couple of drops of dish soap when the outdoor temperature drops below 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Reapply the solution every 3 days for 2 weeks.
You can also sprinkle diatomaceous earth, which is fine white powder made from sedimentary rock, around your moss rose to dry out other pests like slugs.
Recommendations For Moss Rose
Live in an apartment or don’t have enough space in your garden? Moss rose requires very little water which makes it a perfect choice for a potted garden. Its growth habit of trailing makes it look beautiful in hanging baskets as well!
Moss rose also stays within any boundaries, so you can plant it in a fairy garden or any small garden without worrying about its growth.
These plants are also a perfect option for a rock garden since they flourish in poor soils or as a natural decoration for an empty stone wall when it tumbles down the sun-warmed stones.