Can I eat the flowers?

Yes, the flowers are edible and have a similar mild flavor to the leaves.

Why is my plant dying?

It is likely just completing its natural life cycle as the weather warms up.

Plant guide

Winter Purslane.

Claytonia perfoliata

Pronounced klay-TOH-nee-uh per-fo-lee-AY-tuh

Winter purslane is a cool season annual that thrives in damp, shaded spots. It is a fantastic edible green that tastes mild and crisp. You will love how easily it reseeds in the garden.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Annual
Light: Partial shade to full shade
Indoor light: Medium light
Water: Every 2 to 5 days
Mature size: 12 inches
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 6 to 10
Bloom time: Late winter to late spring

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist to prevent the plant from flowering too early. Watch for wilting during warm spells, as this plant prefers cooler temperatures. If it gets too hot, it will quickly go to seed.

Watering: Keep the soil evenly damp but not waterlogged.
Feeding: A light application of balanced liquid fertilizer helps if growth slows down.
Pruning: Harvest outer leaves regularly to encourage new growth and delay flowering.
Repotting: As an annual, this plant completes its life cycle in one season and does not require repotting.
Soil: Moist, well draining soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: -10 to 25°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%

Safety

People: This plant is non-toxic and widely considered safe to eat.
Children: No specific concerns for children, though always supervise foraging activities.
Edibility: Ensure you are harvesting from clean areas free of pesticides or animal waste.

How to identify it

Succulent, fleshy, bright green leaves
Leaves form a cup around stem
Small white or pink flowers
Low growing, spreading habit

Height: 0.05 to 0.3m
Spread: 0.1 to 0.25m
Leaves: bright green, deciduous
Flowers: white, pink, 0.5 to 1cm

Problems to watch for

BoltingCommon
Slugs and SnailsCommon
AphidsUncommon
Damping OffUncommon
Root RotUncommon
Tip BurnUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: autumn, early spring

Plant in the shade of taller perennials to keep the soil cool and extend the harvest season.

Grows well with

Pacific Bleeding Heart · They share similar requirements for cool, shady woodland conditions.
Western Trillium · They occupy the same woodland floor niche without competing for space.

Similar species

Red Maids · A related succulent plant that shares similar growth habits.

Science

Family: Montiaceae
Genus: Claytonia
Order: Caryophyllales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Western North America
Conservation: It is a common, widespread native plant not currently of conservation concern.

It colonizes disturbed, shady, and moist soils, often acting as a pioneer species in woodland clearings.

Value to wildlife: early season nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: edible salad green, ground cover, wildflower garden

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 4/9
Temperature: 4/9
Moisture: 6/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Can I eat the flowers?: Yes, the flowers are edible and have a similar mild flavor to the leaves.
Why is my plant dying?: It is likely just completing its natural life cycle as the weather warms up.

Where the name comes from

The genus honors John Clayton, an early American botanist, while the species name refers to the leaf appearing to be pierced by the stem.

Good to know

It is commonly called miner's lettuce because Gold Rush miners ate it to prevent scurvy.
The leaves grow directly through the center of a circular bract, which is a unique botanical feature.
It thrives in cool, moist weather and often disappears once summer heat arrives.

Also in

Plants for shade

Keep your winter purslane growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.