Purslane / kulfa (Portulaca)
A low, fleshy, mat-forming summer weed with succulent red stems that survives drought and hoeing and seeds prolifically.
- Type
- Broadleaf weed (annual, summer, fleshy)
- Life cycle
- Annual; prolific seed; re-roots & ripens seed
- Spreads by
- Seed; uprooted plants re-root/ripen seed
- Main harm
- Drought-hardy mat competes; hard to kill by hoeing
Overview
Purslane or kulfa (Portulaca oleracea) is a low, fleshy, mat-forming summer broadleaf weed common in vegetables, maize, groundnut, onion and other warm-season crops. It has smooth, succulent, reddish, spreading stems and thick, fleshy, paddle- or spoon-shaped leaves clustered toward the stem tips, with small yellow flowers. Like horse purslane it is fleshy and prostrate, though it is a different plant (with rounder, thicker leaves). It is also eaten as a leafy vegetable in some areas, but is a persistent weed.
Its succulence is what makes it tough: it stores water, so it survives drought and hot dry conditions well, and — notably — an uprooted plant left lying on the soil can re-root, and can even continue to mature and ripen its seed from stored moisture. So careless hoeing may not kill it. It competes with young crops for moisture, nutrients and space and seeds prolifically. Management combines early clean removal (take the plants off the field), a competitive crop, and timely herbicides.
How to identify it
- A low, fleshy, mat-forming weed with smooth, succulent, reddish, spreading stems.
- Thick, fleshy, paddle- or spoon-shaped leaves clustered toward the stem tips, and small yellow flowers.
- Rounder, thicker leaves than horse purslane, and a smooth (not toothed) look.
- Common in vegetables, maize, groundnut, onion and other warm-season crops.
Why it is a problem
- Competes with young crops for moisture, nutrients, light and space in a spreading mat.
- Its succulence lets it survive drought and hot dry conditions well.
- An uprooted plant can re-root, and can even continue to ripen its seed from stored moisture, so careless hoeing may not kill it.
- Seeds prolifically and builds a soil seed bank, returning each warm season.
Cultural & preventive control
- Remove it early and cleanly — take the uprooted plants off the field or let them dry out fully, since they re-root and ripen seed on the soil.
- Grow a competitive, well-established crop and use proper spacing and mulch to suppress it.
- Prevent seed set (including on uprooted plants) to run down the prolific seed bank.
- Keep field edges and bunds clean, and use clean seed.
Herbicide control
- Use recommended pre-emergence herbicides (e.g. pendimethalin) and early post-emergence herbicides for the crop, when the weed is small.
- Apply at the correct stage and dose, and rotate herbicide groups.
- Because uprooted plants survive, herbicide plus clean removal works better than hoeing alone.
- Confirm the current herbicide, dose and timing for your crop with your local KVK.
Integrated management
- Combine early clean removal (off the field), a competitive crop, mulch and timely herbicides.
- Never leave uprooted purslane on moist soil — it re-roots and ripens seed.
- Prevent seed set every season to shrink the seed bank over time.
Crops most at risk
Where this problem is called out in our crop guides — open a crop for the full package of practices.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fleshy, red-stemmed, mat-forming weed with thick spoon-shaped leaves in my vegetables?
A low, fleshy, mat-forming weed with smooth reddish succulent stems and thick, spoon- or paddle-shaped leaves clustered at the tips, with small yellow flowers, is purslane or kulfa (Portulaca oleracea). It survives drought well and competes with young crops. Control it by removing it early and cleanly (take it off the field), growing a competitive crop with mulch, and using a recommended pre-emergence herbicide (e.g. pendimethalin) — and never leave uprooted plants on moist soil.
Why does hoeing sometimes fail to kill purslane?
Because purslane is very succulent and stores water, so an uprooted plant left lying on the soil can re-root from that stored moisture, and can even continue to mature and ripen its seed after being pulled. So simply hoeing it and leaving it on the ground — especially on moist soil — may not kill it and can even let it seed. That is why you should remove the weeded plants from the field (or let them dry out completely), and pair hoeing with a pre-emergence herbicide and a competitive crop.
How is purslane (kulfa) different from horse purslane?
They are both low, fleshy, prostrate summer weeds and are easily confused, but they are different plants. Purslane / kulfa (Portulaca) has smooth, thick, rounded spoon- or paddle-shaped leaves and yellow flowers, while horse purslane (Trianthema) has flatter, roundish leaves in unequal pairs and pinkish flowers. Both are managed similarly — early clean removal, a competitive crop, mulch and timely pre-emergence herbicides — and both can re-root from fleshy pieces, so remove weeded plants from the field.
Symptoms and control measures follow ICAR, KVK and state agricultural-university package-of-practices; any named chemical is a registered use. Always read the product label and confirm the dose for your crop and zone. editorial policy.