FNPS Plant Database

Sesuvium portulacastrum

sea-purslane, shoreline seapurslane, cenicilla
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

sea-purslane, shoreline seapurslane, cenicilla

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Sesuvium portulacastrum

Family:

Aizoaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

.3-.5 ft tall by wide-spreading ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

pink,lavender

Fruit Color:

NA

Phenology:

Evergreen. Succulent. Blooms year round.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Use as a groundcover in moist coastal settings.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries

Propagation:

Division.

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

â–¡â–¡â–¡â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â– â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡

Aquatic -to- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salt.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Soil pH:

Calcareous (high pH)

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B,11

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



Don't know your zone? Click here to search by zip code.

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies

Nectar plant for Miami blue ( Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri ) butterflies (USFWS, Federal Register, 2011-08-10 )





Attracts native bees including metallic bees.

Native Habitats:

Coastal forests, coastal dunes.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

The succulent leaves are edible and somewhat salty.

General Comments:

An important sand stabilizer in the pioneer zone of beach dunes and can tolerate occasional flooding by sea water.

Citations:

https://treasurecoastnatives.wordpress.com/2017/08/18/sea-purslane-and-the-sucky-salt/



https://flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-sesuvium-portulacastrum/ insects:



https://naturescapesofbeaufort.com/product/sesuvium-portulacastrum-sea-purslane/



https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2011-08-10/pdf/2011-19812.pdf.



Haehle, Robert G. and Joan Brookwell.  1999.  Native Florida Plants.  Gulf Publishing Company.  Houston, TX.



Nelson, Gil.  2003.  Florida's Best Landscape Plants. Association of Florida Native Nurseries.

Request an update