# shaggy portulaca (*Portulaca pilosa*) Shaggy portulaca is a colorful plant with soft, fuzzy leaves and bright flowers. It grows close to the ground and loves sunny spots, making it a cheerful addition to gardens and parks. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![shaggy portulaca](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Starr_060405-6884_Portulaca_pilosa.jpg&width=800) Photo: Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Starr_060405-6884_Portulaca_pilosa.jpg) ## Appearance The shaggy portulaca is a low-growing plant with fleshy, cylindrical leaves and stems covered in soft, white hairs, giving it a fuzzy appearance. It boasts vibrant, cup-shaped flowers, often magenta, pink, or yellow, that open during sunny hours. These bright blooms stand out against its unique shaggy foliage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Portulacaceae - **Genus:** Portulaca ## Interesting facts - Despite its beauty, some people call it 'hairy purslane' or 'pigweed' due to its wild growth! - Each tiny flower can produce hundreds of even tinier seeds, ensuring new plants pop up everywhere! - Its bright flowers famously close tight during cloudy weather or at night, only to reopen with the sun! - This tough little plant thrives in sandy or rocky soils where many other plants struggle to grow! ## Special abilities - **Desert Drinker:** Shaggy portulaca has succulent leaves that store water, helping it survive long dry spells like a living canteen! - **Fuzzy Shield:** This plant has dense white hairs on its stems to protect itself from intense sun and reduce water loss. - **Speedy Sprouter:** Shaggy portulaca can sprout, flower, and set seeds rapidly, making the most of short growing seasons. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-20 cm - **Spread:** 10-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from its bright flowers. - **Pollinates:** Painted Lady Butterfly (*Vanessa cardui*) — Sips nectar from its vibrant blooms. - **Eaten by:** Portulaca Leaf Beetle (*Phaedon cyanipes*) — Adults and larvae feed on the succulent leaves. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always check with an adult before touching or picking any plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify shaggy portulaca? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is shaggy portulaca? 5-20 cm ### How wide does shaggy portulaca spread? 10-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on shaggy portulaca? 1-2 cm ### When does shaggy portulaca bloom? Spring to fall ### Is shaggy portulaca edible? Yes ### Is shaggy portulaca toxic? None ### What is shaggy portulaca's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Dawson County Courthouse](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dawson-county-courthouse) — Nebraska, US · Historic Site - [Main–Yankee Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/main-yankee-street-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Oakleigh Garden Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/oakleigh-garden-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-texas-botanical-gardens-and-nature-center) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden - [Thomasville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/thomasville-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District [View all places to see shaggy portulaca](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/shaggy-portulaca) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Shaggy Portulaca: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shaggy-portulaca)