Moss rose plants (Portulaca grandiflora) are popular flowering annuals . The medium green, cylindrical, succulent leaves of moss rose are another clue to the plant’s hardiness, namely its tolerance of drought conditions.

These plants grow three to nine inches tall and spread to create a dense mat, making moss rose a good option as a ground cover. The flowers come in several bright colors and often have ruffled petals, looking very similar to miniature roses. The blooms grow in clusters on reddish stems and typically don’t open on cloudy days or at night. Moss rose is easy and quick to grow and is best planted in the spring after the danger of frost has passed.

Moss Rose Care

Moss rose plants are a popular choice for growing in container gardens, along the front edge of garden bed borders, as edging along paved walkways, in and on top of stone walls, and in rock gardens. In addition, the trailing habit of moss rose works well in hanging baskets. Moreover, moss rose doesn’t typically spread outside of its bounds as a ground cover, so it’s ideal for a small garden.

These plants will flourish in poor, dry soils where many other plants might struggle, and overwatering or soil that’s too wet can actually kill them. They generally require very little maintenance. They typically keep blooming from summer to the first frost of the fall without any deadheading required (removing spent blooms). But you can trim back the plants in mid- to late summer if they start to look lanky to renew their vigor. As annuals, the plants will die at the end of the growing season. But they do produce seeds that might germinate and sprout the following year.