Talinaceae
Surinam-purslane
Talinum fruticosum
Also known as Philippine spinach, Calandrinia andrewsii, Talinum diffusum, Portulaca paniculata
Tropical Plants · Edibles & Herbs · Indoor Plants · Native Plants · Edible · Leafy-Green · Tropical · Succulent · Perennial · Herb · Caribbean · Heat-Tolerant · Container · Purslane
Surinam-purslane is a resilient tropical succulent-like perennial valued for its tender, edible leaves used in salads and stir-fries across the Caribbean and Southeast Asia. It thrives in warm conditions with bright indirect to partial sun and well-draining soil, tolerating brief dry spells once established. An easy-care plant for tropical and subtropical gardens, it can also be grown indoors on a bright windowsill and harvested regularly to promote bushy regrowth.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 5 hours
- Watering
- Water moderately, allowing the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings; reduce watering in cooler months · Every 5-7 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Temperature
- -20°F to 90°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 5a-10b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 3 ft
- Spread
- 18 in
- Spacing
- 12 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Angola, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Assam, Bahamas, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Burkina, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Is., Central African Repu, Colombia, Congo
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies
Sources: trefle, usda
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