Sesuvium portulacastrum
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Sea-purslane, Shoreline Seapurslane, Cenicilla
Aizoaceae
Plant Specifics
| Form: | Flower | |
| Size: | .3-.5 ft tall by wide-spreading ft wide | |
| Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
| Flower Color: | Pink,lavender | |
| Fruit Color: | NA | |
| Phenology: | Evergreen. Succulent. Blooms year round. | |
| Noted for: | Showy flowers, Interesting foliage |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Use as a groundcover in moist coastal settings. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propagation: | Division. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Availability: | Native nurseries | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Full Sun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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| (Aquatic ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: | Aquatic ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Tolerant of frequent or regular inundation (usually areas with tidal inundation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance: | High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and salt spray without injury. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil or other substrate: | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil pH: | Calcareous (high pH) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ecology
| Wildlife: |
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| Insects: | Nectar plant for Miami blue (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri) butterflies (USFWS, Federal Register, 2011-08-10 ) Attracts native bees including metallic bees. | |
| Native Habitats: | Coastal forests, coastal dunes. |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 11 8B 9A 9B
USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures
Comments
| Ethnobotany: | The succulent leaves are edible and somewhat salty. | |
| General Comments: | An important sand stabilizer in the pioneer zone of beach dunes and can tolerate occasional flooding by sea water. |