Practical
Plants

Halimione portulacoides

Sea Purslane

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Halimione genus in the family Chenopodiaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
0.75 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

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

Leaves - raw in salads or cooked as a potherb[4][6][1][3]. Thick and succulent with a good crunchy texture and a natural saltiness[3]. They need careful washing when collected from the wild[5].

Plant part
Leaves

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, south and east to N. Africa and W. Asia. Also in S. Africa.
Habitat
Salt marshes, especially fringing channels and pools, usually flooded at full tide[4][2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
high
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant
Salinity
tolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. The seed germinates from winter onwards. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Very easy[K]. Division in spring.

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in poor soils, saline soils and a sunny position. Tolerates light shade and maritime exposure.

References

  1. Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

  4. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

    ↩1↩2

  5. Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn 1980-00-00

    ↩

  6. Ceres. Free for All. Thorsons Publishers 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-7225-0445-4

    ↩

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