CAN YOU EAT PURSLANE?
COMMON NAMES: PIGWEED / PURSLANE
BOTANICAL NAME: Portulaca oleracea
Purslane is an annual succulent weed / plant that will grow in anything from rock rubble to good quality soil. It is a sun loving plant that wont do well in shade and is a prostrate spreading creeping plant with a taproot that anchors it to the ground. Also known by the common name of Pigweed, this weed is a broadleaf plant with pinkish stems. It is a warm season weed and when mature it has small yellow flowers
Portulaca oleracea reproduces mainly by vegetative spread and can also reproduce via seed.
Hand weeding is an option with this plant but why would you want to pull it out when it is a lovely addition to a Greek salad. Solarization is an easy option for controlling purslane if you can’t be bothered hand weeding. Solarization involves covering the weed with black plastic which is then heated by the sun, killing the plant with heat.
A great salad addition
Purslane is not on edible but it tastes great. Of all the edible weeds I've tried so far this could be my favourite. Great for a substitute a lettuce substitute or other salad greens. The nutritional properties of Purslane also reflect favourably on its value as an edible plant. It contains vitamin A, C and B and contains the minerals magnesium, potassium, iron and calcium. Purslane is also a source of omega 3 fatty acids. Of course never eat any plant that you are not 100% confident of identifying.