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Native Plant Society of Texas

Chisme

Portulaca pilosa

Other common name(s):

Kiss Me Quick, Shaggy Portulaca

Family:

Portulacaceae (Purslane Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, High Plains, Southern Texas Plains, Southwestern Tablelands, Texas Blackland Prairies
Broken Red Plains, Limestone Plains, Red Prairie
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Carbonate Cross Timbers, Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Coastal Sand Plain, Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Arid Llano Estacado, Canadian/Cimarron High Plains, Llano Estacado, Rolling Sand Plains, Shinnery Sands
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces, Semiarid Edwards Bajada, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
Canadian/Cimarron Breaks, Caprock Canyons Badlands Breaks, Flat Tablelands and Valleys, Semiarid Canadian Breaks
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

.25
to
.5
ft.

Spread

.5
to
1
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Annual

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Caliche, Clay, Dry, Granitic, Gravelly, Limestone, Loam, Saline, Sand

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low, Medium

Native Habitat

Disturbed Areas, Grassland, Sand Dunes & Beaches

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Purple

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Maintenance

Requires little to no maintenance once established. Although drought tolerant, blooms will increase with a little supplemental water. Tolerates salt. Works well in a rock garden or as a groundcover, forming dense matts. Can also be grown in a hanging basket or container garden. Needs good drainage. Native habitat: disturbed areas, beaches, roadsides and railroads, sandstone outcrops, slopes and dry washes.

Description

Blooms January-December. A prostate, succulent, branching plant. Leaves are fleshy, flattened, drop-shaped to linear, arranged spirally on the stem. Small, pink or purplish flowers grow at the end of branches with tufts of whitish hairs in the leaf axils. The fruit is an inconspicuous capsule with tiny black seeds.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Portulaca cyanosperma, Portulaca mundula

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Stem Cutting Dip the cut end into rooting hormone and stick into moist soil in the garden or a pot. Water enough to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. The cuttings should root in one to two weeks. Once new growth is visible, cut back to regular watering. Using sharp, sterile snips or pruners, take stem cuttings of 2 to 4 inches from the tips. Remove any spent blooms or buds, and remove leaves from the bottom half of the stem. https://www.southernliving.com/portulaca-7561541#:~:text=Portulaca%20is%20very%20easy%20to,cut%20back%20to%20regular%20watering.
Seed catter seeds over moist, well-draining soil, and press lightly to make contact with the soil. The seeds germinate best when exposed to light. Water to keep soil lightly moist until growth is visible. Keep indoor seedlings in a bright window or under grow lights. Seedlings germinate in 10 to 14 days. After the danger of frost has passed, harden off indoor seedlings, gradually exposing them to outdoor temperatures and sunlight. Transplant into the garden or a larger container, being careful not to disturb the roots. https://www.southernliving.com/portulaca-7561541#:~:text=Portulaca%20is%20very%20easy%20to,cut%20back%20to%20regular%20watering.

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason