you might remember, last year i noticed purslane growing in the gutter on my street. while i had no intention of collecting purslane from the gutter, i did collect the seeds. purslane is a prolific seed producer and i had a nice envelope-full by the end of the summer.

this year, i tried to get more realistic about what i could expect from my garden, and revisited how i might use the full-sun side of the house with containers. we have several hanging pots outside the front door that have turned into our personal purslane garden.

so, why grow purslane? it’s native to los angeles and thrives in summer. it’s often considered a weed, but it’s a beneficial companion plant for many gardens, since it keeps water in the soil. purslane is also considered a superfood, currently containing the highest concentration of omega-3s found in a plant. in addition to being very low in cholesterol, it is also a good source of thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6 and folate, and a very good source of vitamin A, vitamin C, riboflavin, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper and manganese.

last year, i wrote about purslane for LAist and collected what few recipes i could find online to suggest how to enjoy it. if you have any preps you like, post them in the comments!