Portulaca 'Jumbo Scarlet'

Jumbo Scarlet Purslane | Portulaca grandiflora ‘Jumbo Scarlet’ | Moss Rose ‘Jumbo Scarlet’ | Portulaca ‘Jumbo Scarlet’

Jumbo Scarlet Portulaca is a vibrant, sun-worshipping succulent annual (perennial in the warmest zones) prized for its spectacular, continuous profusion of large, brilliantly colored, rose-like deep scarlet-red flowers. This incredibly tough, heat-loving selection is known for its low-growing, trailing habit and fleshy, cylindrical green leaves that thrive in the most challenging, dry, and sweltering summer conditions. Its nectar-rich blossoms—which open brilliantly with the morning sun and close in the evening or on cloudy days—are an absolute magnet for butterflies and bees, making it a spectacular, low-maintenance spiller and groundcover for sunny landscape borders, rock gardens, hanging baskets, and mixed patio containers. With its bold, dramatic color and reliable performance in poor soils, Jumbo Scarlet offers an extraordinary, non-stop display of vibrant blooms from late spring until the first frost with exceptionally straightforward care.

Growing Jumbo Scarlet Portulaca

Light: Full sun; thrives in intense, direct sunlight (at least 6 to 8 hours per day) which is absolutely required for the blossoms to fully open and for the plant to maintain a tight, sturdy spreading form.

Soil: Light, sandy, or gravelly, well-drained soil; highly adaptable to poor soils as long as drainage is excellent. It is extremely susceptible to root rot in heavy, waterlogged clay or overly rich, wet potting mixes.

Water: Low; water sparingly once established, allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings. Its fleshy, succulent leaves and stems store water, making it exceptionally drought-tolerant and highly sensitive to overwatering.

Maintenance: Exceptionally low maintenance. The vigorous trailing stems produce self-cleaning flowers without the need for tedious deadheading. No fertilizer is typically needed, as excessively rich soils encourage soft, weak foliage growth at the expense of its prolific blooms.

Wildlife: Highly attractive to butterflies, bees, and other beneficial pollinators; naturally deer- and rabbit-resistant.

Hardiness: Perennial in USDA zones 10–11; widely grown as a spectacular, fast-growing summer annual in all cooler regions.

Shipping Info

Jumbo Scarlet Portulaca plants are shipped as healthy young starts in 4" nursery pots. Allow 1–2 weeks after arrival for plants to recover from shipping and resume active growth before repotting or planting outdoors.