A fast way to tell purslane and spurge apart is to break a stem and check the color of the plant’s sap. If it’s a milky white latex, it’s spurge; if the sap is clear, it’s purslane.
However, the white sap might not be as obvious in thin spurge stems and young plants. To identify the plant 100% correctly, combine the sap test with other telling characteristics discussed in this article.
Common traits of purslane and spurge
Most spurge plants (Euphorbia spp.) look very different from purslane (Portulaca oleracea), but a few low-growing spurges are similar enough to confuse them with portulaca if you don’t know what to look for:
- Spotted spurge (Euphorbia maculata) is the most similar due to its reddish stems
- Creeping spurge (Euphorbia serpens)
- Prostrate spurge (Euphorbia prostrata), also known as ground spurge weed
Like purslane, these three spurge species are low-growing weeds that creep near the soil, with all their stems growing outward from a central taproot. They form dense, wheel-like mats, 4 to 8 inches tall.
Spurges and purslane grow in similar environments. They are summer annuals that thrive in full sun, enjoy heat and can adapt to almost any type of soil.
You’ll often see spurge and purslane plants growing next to each other on the roadsides, in thinned lawns, along the walkways, in cracks in the pavement, and wherever dry, hard, poor soil prevents other plants from growing.
But the similarities between spurge and purslane stop here.
Four differences between purslane and spurge
How can you tell the difference between purslane and spurge? Purslane might be hard to distinguish from low-growing spurge from afar, but a closer look reveals evident differences between the two.
Here’s a shortlist for a fast purge vs. purslane comparison:
| How to recognize purslane | How to recognize spurge |
| ☐ Clear, watery sap ☐ Succulent, thick leaves with smooth margins ☐ Fleshy, thick, hairless stems ☐ Yellow flowers | ☐ Milky white sap ☐ Paper-thin leaves with serrated margins ☐ Thin stems with tiny hairs ☐ White to pinkish flowers |
To distinguish purslane from spurge, closely examine the plant in front of you and analyze it.
1. The stems
Take a close look at the stem. A magnifying glass can help with details. Try to bend the stem and feel how elastic it is.
- Spurge stems are tough and thin, no thicker than a toothpick, and covered in fine hairs. Creeping and prostrate spurges have green stems, while spotted spurges have reddish ones.
- Purslane has fleshy, thicker stems. In good soil and with enough moisture, they can grow as thick as your pinky. They’re also more elastic, with a fleshy texture and no hairs. Most stems are a light maroon to reddish-purple, but younger ones can be green.
2. The sap color and texture
Break a stem and check the sap.
- Right after breaking, the spurge stem forms a white drop of milky sap. You don’t have to squeeze it or anything. Avoid touching the sap since it can blister your skin and cause painful rashes.
- Purslane doesn’t form drops of sap after breaking. If you touch the cut with your finger, you’ll notice clear moisture, like water, on your skin. The same clear moisture shines inside the stem, but you’ll have to squeeze the plant hard to make it release a drop.
3. The leaves
Observe how the leaves look and feel and how they are arranged on the stem.
- Spurge weed has paper-thin, flat leaves with an oval shape and serrated margin. The leaves are a darker green and spotted spurge has a dark purple spot in the middle of the leaf vein. Spurge leaves are typically arranged in pairs – two leaves that grow opposite to each other on the stem.
- Purslane leaves are fleshy, smooth, and club-shaped. They have a light green color and no serrations on the margin. Purslane has alternate leaves that cluster at stem joints.
4. The flowers
If it’s mid-summer or early fall, your plant might have tiny flowers where the leaves join the stem.
- Creeping, prostrate, and spotted spurges have white to pink flowers.
- Common purslane has yellow flowers.
Why is it important to tell apart purslane from spurge
Safe weeding: Knowing how to distinguish spurges from purslane helps you safely handle weeds in your lawn.
While purslane is completely harmless at touch and can be safely handled with your bare hands, spurge is dangerous. Its toxic sap can cause painful rashes and swelling where it touches the skin. If drops reach the eyes, they can also cause redness, conjunctivitis, blurry vision, and blindness.
Safe eating: Also known as little hogweed, pusley, and wild portulaca, purslane is considered a superfood. It is rich in Omega-3, antioxidants, vitamins A and C, iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium, and although not extremely popular, many people have added it to their diet.
If you’re interested in foraging edible weeds such as purslane, ensure you know how to identify them correctly or find a store that sells purslane as fresh produce. Confusing it with spurge can lead to serious health problems.
If ingested, spurge leads to rashes and swelling of the lips, tongue, cheeks, and throat, sometimes with respiratory problems. Once in the digestive system, the toxic sap can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. You can end up in the emergency room, depending on how much you ingest.
Warning! Never eat a plant you’re not sure of. Take a sample to the local Extension Office for identification or search online in specialized databases such as Food Plants International or Plants for a Future.
Other similar species
According to Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, other two species that look similar to purslane and spurge are:
- Prostrate pigweed (Amaranthus blitoides S. Watson). Like low-growing spurges, prostrate pigweed has thin leaves that set it apart from the succulent purslane leaves.
- Prostrate knotweed (Polygonum aviculare L.) has papery appendages called ocreas that wrap the stem above each leaf.
FAQ
What does purslane taste like?
Purslane has a slightly sour and salty taste. It’s similar to spinach, except it has a mucilaginous texture, a bit like mushrooms.
How can you eat purslane?
Purslane can be eaten raw, added to salads, tacos, and sandwiches, or made into a pesto. Sauteed, steamed, or stir-fried, purslane makes a delicious garnish.
How do you get rid of spurge weed?
To get rid of spurge weed use the following methods:
- Spread a pre-emergent herbicide in late winter to early spring
- Cover the soil with mulch or gravel to prevent germination
- Dig out individual plants with the taproot
- Mow the grass tall
- Apply a post-emergent herbicide in the summer
Let the pros deal with the weeds
Weeds can be quite a challenge once they get into a lawn. Don’t let them make a home in your grass. Find an experienced weed control pro with Lawn Love and enjoy a weed-free lawn year-round!
Sources:
- Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (n.d.). Common purslane. https://cals.cornell.edu/weed-science/weed-profiles/common-purslane
- Deever, D. Leas, L. (n.d.). The Good Weed Series Purslane (Portulaca oleracea). Desert Gardening in Southern Nevada, Blog Posts 21-01. Nevada Extension, College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources. https://extension.unr.edu/publication.aspx?PubID=4011
- Liu, L. (n.d.). Keep Away From Spurge Sap. Poison Control National Capital Poison Center. https://www.poison.org/articles/keep-away-from-spurge-sap-222
- Mahr, S. (n.d.). Common Purslane, Portulaca oleracea. University of Wisconsin – Madison. https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/common-purslane-portulaca-oleracea/
Main Image Credit: Robert Flogaus-Faust | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 4.0
