Spritz Mix F1

Class

Dicotyledons

Division

Angiospermae

Family

Portulacaceae

Order

Caryophyllales

Genus

Purslane

Species

grandiflora

Description

A very decorative, vigorous annual herbaceous plant with a drooping or semi-erect habit, depending on the variety.

With its abundant and brightly coloured blooms even in hot, dry conditions, it expresses the strength and vibrancy of summer at its best, making it ideal for adding a splash of colour to spaces exposed to full sun including flower beds, borders, terraces and balconies, rock gardens and hanging baskets. The succulent foliage with its needle-like leaf blade also lends decorative value by creating dense, dense canopies from which a profusion of flowers emerge from mid-spring to early autumn, tending to close their corollas as the sun sets.

It is highly rustic and requires a low level of maintenance effort.

Variety description

Seed purslane with a very compact habit, ideal for quick cultivation in packs. Flowering with a short day. Still used in flowerbeds or along the edges of pavements in the most extreme full sun positions.

Curiosities and special features

The generic term portulaca, given to it by the Swedish botanist and naturalist C. Linnaeus, derives from the Latin 'portula' or small door in reference to the dehiscent fruit formed by a capsule with a lid that opens like a door; the specific epithet, grandiflora, refers to the size of the flowers.

Origin and distribution

Belonging to the genus Portulaca comprising more than 100 species growing wild in the tropical and subtropical biome; specifically Portulaca grandiflora is a native species of Argentina, southern Brazil, Peru and Uruguay, it is now naturalised in European geographic areas with warm climates.

Flower size

The flower is average in size compared to other varieties.

Leaf

Leaf with linear, succulent lamina.

Flowering period

The luxuriant flowering lasts from mid-spring to the end of summer for a duration of 130 to 150 days, an ample time interval that allows us to enjoy its colourful flowers for a long time.

Leaf colour

Solid colours.

Plant height

The height of the plant varies from 0.12 to 0.18 m, ideal for creating colourful expanses in flowerbeds.

Lifespan

Annual Plant.

Where to plant

It is an excellent ornamental solution for gardeners and green enthusiasts at all levels of experience; due to its hardiness and resistance to climatic conditions often unfavourable to other species as well as its lush and vibrant blooms, it is widely used in flowerbeds, borders

Stem

Herbaceous stem, the variety has no thorns.

Flower

The flower is semi-double in shape, of medium size, with a dialipetal corolla. The petals are solid-coloured. It flowers from mid-spring to late summer, with a flowering period of 130 to 150 days. It is not particularly attractive to pollinating insects.

Growth

It shows a compact Growth, excellent for creating dense homogeneous groups.

Plant habit

With its semi-erect habit, it can easily be combined with other flowering plants in the garden with an alternation of colours and heights, achieving a pleasant overall movement; also suitable for baskets and hanging baskets.

Branching

Medium branching gives a highly ornamental result with a proportionate ratio of foliage to flowers.

PH

The ideal pH of the soil or substrate for Portulaca grandiflora is moderately acidic.

Soil preparation

Before the spring-summer transplanting into the flower bed, dig up the soil about 20/30 cm deep, removing any weeds and cumbersome stones, then bury organic or chemical slow-release fertiliser to ensure an initial supply of nutrients and, if the soil is too compact or clayey, it is advisable to add sand. Continue by breaking up the coarsest clods with the help of a hoe and carefully levelling the surface by preparing the planting holes according to a suitable density.

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Sun exposure

Full sun exposures are the best for excellent results in terms of both growth vigour and flowering.

Ideal climate and temperature

The ideal temperature is between 18 and 24 °C. The biological temperature is between 8 and 36 °C, so even under less than optimal thermal conditions the plant can survive and then resume vigorous vegetative growth when mild conditions are restored. It proves to be very resistant to heat and drought during the summer period, continuing, even in such climatic situations, to give brilliant and abundant flowering. In a climatic context where for some years now we have been witnessing increasingly critical situations from the point of view of water availability and characterised by higher and higher temperatures than in previous years, the availability of flowering plants that are well adapted to these conditions is very valuable.

Use

Its high rusticity, ease of cultivation management as well as scenic and prolonged flowering give it a primary role as a plant in
Outdoor ornamental Outdoor Landscape Design

Hardiness

It is highly rustic, ensuring excellent flowering even in climates with dry and hot summers.

Soil

Light to medium-textured, well-drained soils are optimal; for use in planters and tubs, a substrate for spring plants based on fibrous peat and perlite is recommended.

Difficulty

This plant is also appreciated for its extremely easy overall management and maintenance.

Growing tips

Here are some cultivation tips for best results during plant growth:
With little light, plants do not flower Expose the plant to maximum light

Observing the ideal conditions guarantees the success of your green space and is therefore very useful information for better vegetative development and flowering results.

Combinations with other plants

Recommended composition with other purslane varieties with different flower colour shades or with other ornamentals such as Hageratum houstonianum, Gomphrena globosa, Lobularia maritima.

Planting

For bed planting we recommend an average planting size of 30 plants per square metre, the interval may vary depending on the initial development of the seedlings and the final effect of less or greater density desired, but it must always guarantee the correct development of each individual specimen, allowing it to express the best growth vigour. We suggest placing each seedling on a raised bed with the collar out of the soil, taking care not to damage the roots and avoiding completely sinking the lumps, which must be well moistened; finally, water immediately after planting, preferably during the morning hours, but avoiding water stagnation.

Propagation

Multiplication is mainly by cutting.

Watering

It is possible to use rainwater, or alternatively aqueduct water, by hand watering or with an irrigation system, taking care to allow the soil or substrate to dry adequately between successive irrigations, keeping them slightly damp but avoiding drying out and wilting of the plant; it is also advisable not to overdo the water supplies to prevent water stagnation that is not tolerated by the plant. Interventions must be regular but moderate.
At transplanting, provide adequate initial wetting and follow the seedling until it has completely settled into its new site.

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Fertilising

When preparing the soil for transplanting, carry out basic fertilisation by burying organic or slow-release chemical fertiliser. After proper settlement in the new planting site, apply a balanced fertiliser specifically for ornamental plants to the soil or substrate without exceeding doses and frequencies.

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Pet safety

Ingestion toxicity not known; consider case-specific and do not administer.

Edibility for humans

Non-edible ornamental Species.

Toxicity for humans

It can be toxic if ingested in certain quantities.

Tip

Plant from theExpert's Opinion (Varietal Opinion The double-flowered spritz purslane is a beautiful plant for flowerbeds or flower pools in bright summer colours. Due to its great rusticity it is still used, as it once was, along the edges of pavements and near asphalt in the most extreme full sun positions where it is warmest. Thanks to its succulent leaves, it is still today among the most stress-resistant border plants. Itis also a very economical plant with no great need for irrigation, Transplanting seedlings into the garden is not recommended before May, especially in northern regions. It is one of the most traditional border plants where it often reseeds itself.