Can I grow this in a regular garden?

Yes, it grows well in sandy, well-draining soil even away from the coast.

How much water does it need?

It is very drought tolerant once established and prefers to dry out between waterings.

Plant guide

Sea purslane.

Sesuvium portulacastrum

Pronounced seh-SOO-vee-um por-too-lah-KAS-trum

Also known as Sea Purslane, Sea-purslane, Shoreline Purslane, Shoreline Seapurslane, cencilla, common carpetweed

Sea purslane is a hardy succulent groundcover that thrives in coastal environments. It is well known for its ability to tolerate salt spray and sandy soil. This plant creates a beautiful mat of fleshy green or reddish stems.

Another photo of Sea purslane — Photo by Abu Hamas (CC BY-SA) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Succulent perennial
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 6 to 12 inches tall
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 9 to 11
Bloom time: Spring to fall

Care

Plant this succulent in well draining soil and provide plenty of sunlight. Watch for mushy stems which indicate too much moisture. It is highly drought tolerant once established.

Watering: Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings.
Feeding: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer sparingly during the growing season.
Pruning: Trim back long stems to maintain a tidy shape.
Repotting: Repot only when the plant becomes root bound in its container.
Soil: Sandy or saline soil
Soil pH: Neutral to alkaline
Temperature: 5 to 40°C
Humidity: 40 to 90%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years.
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water sitting on the surface for too long.
Stunted growth during the active season.

Safety

People: It is generally considered non-toxic, but the high salt content makes it unsuitable for regular consumption.
Children: The plant is safe to handle, but the small seeds and succulent leaves could pose a minor choking hazard if ingested by very small children.
Contact allergens: The succulent stems may cause minor skin irritation in sensitive individuals due to salt accumulation.
Airborne allergens: There are no notable reports of respiratory allergies associated with this plant.
Edibility: While sometimes used as a potherb, it can accumulate high levels of salt and minerals from its environment, so consume with caution.

How to identify it

Fleshy succulent leaves
Small star shaped pink flowers
Prostrate creeping growth habit
Reddish to green stems
Opposite leaf arrangement

Height: 0.1 to 0.3m
Spread: 0.3 to 1m
Leaves: green, reddish, evergreen
Flowers: pink, purple, 1 to 2cm
Fruit: brown, Late summer to autumn

Problems to watch for

Root RotCommon
AphidsUncommon
MealybugsUncommon
Salt StressRare

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, seed
When to plant: spring, summer
Overwintering: In cooler climates, move containers indoors to a sunny window before the first frost. Keep the soil on the drier side during the winter months.
In containers: It thrives in containers with excellent drainage, provided they are placed in a very sunny location.

Stem Cuttings

1. Snip a 10 cm stem cutting.
2. Remove the lower leaves.
3. Let the cut end dry for a day.
4. Insert into moist, sandy soil.
5. Keep in bright light until rooted.

Pair this plant with other salt-tolerant coastal species to create a low-maintenance, resilient landscape.

Grows well with

Sea Oats · They share similar coastal habitat requirements and provide structural diversity.
Beach Sunflower · It provides a bright yellow contrast to the purple flowers of the sea purslane.

Similar species

Common Purslane · It has a similar growth habit but lacks the high salt tolerance of sea purslane.

Science

Family: Aizoaceae
Genus: Sesuvium
Order: Caryophyllales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Tropical and subtropical coastal regions worldwide.
Conservation: It is a common coastal plant and is not currently listed as endangered or threatened.

It survives in harsh coastal environments by storing water in its succulent leaves and excreting excess salt through specialized glands.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, ground cover habitat
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: coastal ground cover, salt marsh restoration, edible greens, rock garden accent

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 8/9
Soil reaction: 7/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 8/9
Moisture: 3/9
Nutrients: 3/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Can I grow this in a regular garden?: Yes, it grows well in sandy, well-draining soil even away from the coast.
How much water does it need?: It is very drought tolerant once established and prefers to dry out between waterings.

Where the name comes from

The name Sesuvium is of uncertain origin, while portulacastrum refers to its resemblance to the genus Portulaca.

Good to know

It is commonly known as sea purslane.
The leaves turn a beautiful reddish hue when exposed to intense sun and salt spray.
It acts as a natural soil stabilizer on sandy beaches.
The flowers open in the morning and close by the afternoon.

Also in

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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.