Purslane

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Use with caution

MODERATE

Purslane

Portulaca oleracea · Portulacaceae

How it looks

Common purslane is an annual with thick reddish stems that spread flat along the ground and fleshy, spoon-shaped leaves set alternately or in near-opposite pairs. In summer, small yellow flowers about 0.2 in (5 mm) across open at the stem tips and leaf axils, usually only for a few hours around midday. It stays low, 4-12 in (10-30 cm), and turns up on bare sunny ground — fields, roadsides, and cracks in pavement.

Caution — drooling and tremors; kidney failure is rare

All parts of purslane contain soluble calcium oxalates that can cause drooling, tremors, and weakness if chewed. In rare cases this can progress to kidney failure, so as a caution-level plant it calls for monitoring.

If ingested

Contact your nearest vet immediately

Onset: 1–4 hours after ingestion
Symptoms: Kidney failure (rare), Tremors, Drooling, Weakness, Depression, Diarrhea
Action: Consult a vet if you suspect chewing, then monitor. Go in immediately if tremors or weakness appear.

Guide for parents

The soluble calcium oxalates in purslane irritate the mouth and mucous membranes, so chewing it can bring on drooling and tremors. Muscle weakness, low energy, and diarrhea can follow. Kidney failure is rare, but it has been reported, so don't just shrug off a nibble — keep an eye on your cat.

Purslane is a common weed that comes up on its own in fields, along roadsides, and in cracks in pavement, and in Korea it is also blanched and eaten as a side dish. That can make the warning feel odd — but people eating a plant is not evidence that it is fine for a cat, and the ASPCA lists purslane as toxic to cats. If your cat goes outdoors, pull up any plants growing where it walks, and keep purslane bought for cooking in the fridge rather than on the counter.

Its English names overlap with those of Portulaca grandiflora. Moss Rose, Portulaca, Purslane, and Rock Moss are shared by both species, so a seed packet or plant label may not tell you which you have. A potted ornamental with showy red, pink, or yellow blooms is Portulaca grandiflora; a volunteer plant with tiny yellow flowers is common purslane. The ASPCA verdict belongs to purslane, so when in doubt, treat it as purslane and move it out of reach.

If you suspect your cat has chewed it, rinse the mouth with water and consult your vet. Go in right away if drooling or tremors continue, or if your cat is noticeably weak.