Summer Sizzlers — 3. Portulaca grandiflora (Moss Rose, Portulaca, Sun Plant)

3. Portulaca, Moss rose (Hindi Names: Nonia, Gul-e shama)  

 Here’s the third one. It’s a commonly called ‘Protulaca’ or 'Moss Rose'.  
Moss rose is a prostrate, trailing, multi-branched annual with semi-succulent stems and leaves. It is a very common house-plant in sunny places in India. 

• Botanical Name: Portulaca Grandiflora
• Common Name: Portulaca, Moss Rose, Sun Plant.
• Family name: Portulacaceae (Purslane Family)
• Plant type: A flowering annual succulent, native to southern Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.
• Light: Full sun for best growth and flowering.
• Moisture: Performs well with regular watering though can tolerate dry and hot conditions as well. Do allow soil to dry out between watering.
• Soil: Grows best in well-drained sandy or gravelly soil. 
  
• Propagation: Easily propagated by pinching off the Portulaca stems into 2-4 inches length, stick them directly into moist, sandy or loamy soil and locate them in a sunny area. Portulacas can also be propagated from seeds that are as tiny as dust, so mix the seeds with sand before sowing to make them easier to scatter, then rake in.
• Features: Portulaca grandiflora is a low growing plant with a height of about 4-8 inches (15-20 cm) and a sprawling spread of 12-14 inches (30.5-35.5 cm). This fast growing and sun-loving annual succulent is multi-branched with brownish-red succulent stems and bright green leaves that are cylindrical, fleshy and pointed at the tips. Its ephemeral flowers are about an inch to 3 inches (7.6 cm) across, borne singly on terminal stems and come in many bright colors of rose pink, red, yellow, orange, purple, white or multi-colored with stripes or spots. It can be in single form, double or multi-petalled like the rose. Flowers open every morning in the sunshine and closes in the afternoon, night or on cloudy days.

• Usage: Portulaca grandiflora is most ideal as ground cover for dry areas and rock gardens or sunny borders and beds, especially if planted with a mix of various cultivars to present a carpet of colors. It is fantastic as a hanging basket plant with its trailing branches and colorful blooms cascading over the basket or pot. Excellent too for container gardening or planter boxes, placed at balconies, window sills, patios and decks. Being very tolerant of hot and dry conditions. 

• Care: Ross Moss are such tough and fuss-free annuals, almost thriving on neglect. Locate them where there is full sun and with sufficient watering, they’ll delight you with a continuous profusion of colorful blooms all year round or all summer long. Dead-heading is not required at all, though you may want to harvest seeds for next year’s planting or pinch off spent flowers to encourage flowering. Portulaca's are relatively pest and disease free.

Enjoy photos of Portulaca cultivars!!!

Happy Gardening !!

Summer Sizzlers — 2. Jasmine (Hindi Names: Bela, Moti)

2. Jasmine (Hindi Names: Bela, Moti) 

Here’s the Second one. It’s a commonly called ‘Bela’ or 'Jasmine'. 

 Jasmine is an evergreen shrub, that often reaches 5 ft in height in pots. The flowers are used in making perfumes and as a flavoring in tea in China. Jasmine is native to India. This woody shrub features green oval shaped leaves. 

Jasmine Flower full bloom

  The most attractive aspect of this plant is its small, white, star-shaped flowers, which are fragrant and have a wonderfully sweet scent. This ever blooming Jasmine has bushy growth and does particularly well on windowsills. 

• Botanical Name: Jasminum sambac var. 'Maid of Orleans'   
• Common Name: Arabian Jasmine, Bela, Moti, Motiya, Mogra
• Family name: Oleaceae (Jasmine family)
• Plant type: Jasmine is a genus of shrubs and vines in the olive family (Oleaceae). It contains around 200 species native to tropical and warm temperate regions of Asia, Europe, and Africa.
• Light: Prefers full sun though can tolerate partial shade. Blooms prolifically if planted in areas that receives the most sunlight.

Jasmines can be either deciduous (leaves falling in autumn) or evergreen (green all year round), and can be erect, spreading, or climbing shrubs and vines. The flowers are typically around 2.5 cm (0.98 in) in diameter.

  It is well known in Asia for its use in teas and religious observances. Also known as the "Arabian Tea Jasmine," it is the National Flower of the Philippines, where it is known as ‘Sampaguita.’ 

  

Common Uses: 

Widely cultivated for its flowers, jasmine is enjoyed in the garden, as a house plant, and as cut flowers. The flowers are worn by women in their hair in southern and southeast Asia. The delicate jasmine flower opens only at night and may be plucked in the morning when the tiny petals are tightly closed, then stored in a cool place until night.

Enjoy!!

Summer Sizzlers — 1. Dwarf Mexican Petunia (Katie)

It’s been hotter in Gurgaon and plant’s going to die if we don’t make extra care this time.

Are there any plants that thrive in these conditions and will beautify your gardens all summer? Of course, they are! Here is the first of Great Summer Sizzlers. Plant them and be cool.

 1. Dwarf Mexican Petunia (Katie)

 

Here’s the first one. It’s a dwarf called ‘Katie’. It grows about 10 inches high and 12 inches wide. It sets few seeds and is not an aggressive spreader. Large, pink-purple flowers appear from June until frost.  

Mexican petunia flowers best in the full sun. Each flower opens for only a single day, and the plant produces what seems like an endless number of blooms. Many gardeners like Mexican petunia because it is easy to grow and enjoy.

• Botanical Name: Ruellia brittoniana ‘Katie’, Ruellia tweediana ‘Katie’
• Common Name: Katie Dwarf Ruellia, Dwarf Mexican Petunia, Dwarf Purple Ruellia, Dwarf Blue Bell
• Family name: Acanthaceae
• Plant type: A low-growing herbaceous ornamental Perennial, originating from Mexico.
• Light: Prefers full sun though can tolerate partial shade. Blooms prolifically if planted in areas that receives the most sunlight.
  
  

  
• Moisture: Medium to low water requirement. Can grow in both dry and wet conditions.
• Soil: Though tolerant of high heat and humidity, it grows best in standard moist soil. A versatile plant that thrives in any kind of soil, be it acidic, sandy or clay.
• Propagation: By dividing its rhizomes (root ball) or from herbaceous stem cuttings that root very easily in moist soil or seeds, though it’s better to let it self-sow which it does quite aggressively.

• Care: Very low maintenance plant that does not need deadheading and is hardly bothered by serious insect or disease problems. Very occasionally bothered by snails, caterpillars, mealy bugs and white flies though, so an occasional check on the underside of leaves or bud clusters are advisable to prevent any spread if any. Ruellia brittoniana ‘Katie’ being a dwarf variety needs no pruning. If the colony of plants gets too big over time, just remove stray or excess plants by cutting straight into the root ball with a spade, dig and discard them. Preferably, grow them in hot and sunny areas to result in the most blooms.

 

• Usage: Being compact and low-growing, this Dwarf Purple Ruellia will be perfect as a front-of-the-border grouping in flower beds or groundcovers! Also, excellent for container gardening to brighten any garden spot or landscape with their colorful and plentiful blooms. Not excluding their great attraction to butterflies and bees!

 Here’s sharing some images of Katie’s Pink Ruellia from our garden.