Surprise Rose Moss

Surprise Rose Moss (Portulaca oleracea 'Surprise') is a fast growing succulent for hot, dry, sunny places, reaching about 30cm high and 40cm wide. The name is honest: most plants flower golden yellow or scarlet red, but you will not know which until each one blooms, and a few turn out to be something else. It flowers from tube size, so the colour shows early.

Why you'll love it

• A colour lottery. Most plants flower golden yellow or scarlet red, while the rest are a true surprise, so a group of plants can look pleasingly different from each other.
• Flowers from tube size. Plants start blooming while still small, so you see the colour early and do not wait for a mature plant.
• Thrives on neglect. It is drought tolerant, heat tolerant and salt tolerant, and it grows in poor soil, so it suits spots that dry out between rains.
• Quick and effortless. A fast growing mat of fleshy leaves fills pots and gaps without fuss, with little watering once established.
• Cup shaped flowers all year. The five-petalled blooms appear through the year and peak in spring and summer.

Where it works best

Hanging baskets and deck pots. A basket or pot in full sun shows off the spreading habit. Several plants in one container give a patchwork of yellow and red.

Rockeries and waterwise gardens. Plant 30cm apart among rocks and gravel. Reflected heat and sharp drainage suit it, and the mixed colours look natural against stone.

Poolside and balcony pots. Heat and salt tolerance and modest water needs make it a practical choice for hot balconies and pots around a pool.

Cottage gardens. Plant at the front of a sunny bed for informal, cheerful colour with no colour scheme to match.

Growing Surprise Rose Moss in Australia

Position and climate. Keep it in a sunny position for at least part of the day, and full sun gives the strongest flowering. It is frost tender, so frost free subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens suit it best. In colder districts, grow it in a pot and move it under cover for winter.

Soil. Free draining soil is the main need, and poor ground is fine. It tolerates salty soil as well, so it works near the coast.

Water and feed. Water until established, usually around 12 weeks, then only when the soil is dry or the leaves start to shrink. A little extra water in hot, sunny sites keeps flowering strong.

Pruning. There is no routine pruning. Trim leggy stems back lightly to keep the plant dense, and tidy spent growth as it appears.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Surprise Rose Moss as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. Each plant is a little different, so no two are guaranteed to flower the same colour. Plant it into free draining soil or a sunny pot soon after it arrives and water it in. Because it flowers from tube size, you may see the first colour quickly in warm weather.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Succulents for hot climates
• Plants for poolside gardens
• Plants for balconies
• A complete succulent care guide

Common questions

Can I choose the colour?

No. Most plants flower golden yellow or scarlet red, but each plant is a surprise, and you will see the colour once it flowers. If you need a particular colour for a design, choose a named variety instead.

How often should I water it?

Water regularly for the first 12 weeks or so while it establishes, then only when the soil is dry or the leaves begin to shrink. A little more water in hot, sunny positions keeps it flowering.

Will it survive winter?

Not through frost. In a frost free garden it can carry on, but in cold districts keep it in a pot and bring it indoors to keep it warm, or treat it as a summer plant.