Common Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is in the purslane family family (Portulacaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,017 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to September, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Common Purslane: observations by month (U.S.)
About Common Purslane
Portulaca oleracea (common purslane, also known as verdolaga, little hogweed, red root, or pursley is an annual succulent in the family Portulacaceae, which may reach 40 centimetres (16 in) in height.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Common Purslane by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 242 | April | Mar–Aug |
| Texas | 211 | July | Jun–Sep |
| California | 129 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Arizona | 37 | August | Jul–Sep |
| New Mexico | 29 | September | Jun–Sep |
| Nebraska | 23 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Hawaii | 20 | April | Mar–May |
| Louisiana | 19 | July | May–Aug |
| Colorado | 18 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 18 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Mississippi | 18 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Ohio | 18 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Oregon | 18 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 15 | July | Jul–Sep |
| New Jersey | 14 | July | Jul–Sep |
| New York | 14 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Georgia | 11 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Illinois | 10 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Washington | 10 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Michigan | 9 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Minnesota | 9 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Utah | 9 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Alabama | 8 | October | Jul–Oct |
| Oklahoma | 8 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Kentucky | 7 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Maryland | 7 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Rhode Island | 7 | August | Jul–Aug |
| South Carolina | 7 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Vermont | 7 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Virginia | 7 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Arkansas | 6 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Connecticut | 5 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Indiana | 5 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Iowa | 5 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Missouri | 5 | July | Jul–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (purslane family)
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Common Purslane?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from June to September.
Where is Common Purslane most often seen?
The most observations come from Florida, Texas, California.