Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) thrives about anywhere — dry or moist soil, in flower, shrub and vegetable beds, in the lawn or in cracks in pavement. It tends to prefer sunnier locations, but can be found in shady spots, too. The plant forms a low-growing mat of shiny, thick, oval-shaped leaves. It has small yellow flowers and many tiny black seeds, which retain their ability to germinate in soil for eight years or more. A single plant can produce hundreds of thousands of seeds. Pieces of this plant’s stems also can retain viability for several days when left on the soil. These form new roots and plants as soon as water hits the soil.

The easiest way to keep this plant from rooting in your landscape is to apply Preen Garden Weed Preventer to prevent the weeds for up to three months.