Practical
Plants

Claytonia sibirica

Pink Purslane

an annual or perennial evergreen member of the Claytonia genus in the family Portulacaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual, perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Height
0.15 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Flies
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Flies

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves - raw or cooked[4][9][3]. They usually have a fairly bland flavour and are quite nice in a salad or cooked as a green vegetable. The leaves have a distinct earthy after-taste rather like raw beetroot[K]. They are available all year round but can turn rather bitter in the summer, especially if the plant is growing in a hot dry position[K]. Although on the small side, the leaves are produced in abundance and are very easily harvested[K].

Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant is diuretic[7]. A poultice of the chewed leaves has been applied to cuts and sores[7]. The juice of the plant has been used as eye drops for sore red eyes[7]. A cold infusion of the stems has been used as an antidandruff wash for the hair[7].

Product or use
Antidandruff
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Ophthalmic
Product or use
Poultice

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A good ground cover plant for a shady position[6]. This species is a short-lived perennial but it usually self-sows freely and gives a dense weed-excluding ground cover[K].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Siberia. Naturalized in Britain.
Habitat
Damp woods, shaded streamsides etc, especially on sandy acid soils[2][8].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring or autumn in situ. The seed usually germinates rapidly.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A very tolerant and easily grown plant, it prefers a moist peaty soil[1] and is unhappy in dry situations[K]. It succeeds in full sun[5] though is happier when given some shade and also grows in the dense shade of beech trees[10]. Plants usually self-sow freely[200, K]. This is an excellent and trouble-free salad plant. It is extremely cold-hardy and can provide edible leaves all year round in all areas of the country even if it is not given protection[K].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

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  3. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

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  4. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

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  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

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  6. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

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  7. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  8. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

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  9. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

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  10. RHS. The Garden. Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society 1987-00-00

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