Pink purslane, Siberian Springbeauty, Siberian miner’s lettuce
Claytonia sibirica

Family: Montiaceae

What it is like

An annual herb with glossy leaves. It can keep growing from year to year. It grows 20 cm tall. It grows each year from seed. It can have a few or several stems. There are a single pair of opposite leaves on these. The leaves are broadly oval. It is a spreading plant. The leaves are oval and dark green. They form a ring at the base in young plants. The leaves at the base have long stalks. At the top there is a cluster of flowers. The flowers are pink. They have 5 notched white or red petals. The flowers are 1 cm across.

It is also put in the family Portulacaceae.

Where it is found

It is a cool temperate climate plant. It grows well in cool and shady places. It grows in sandy and acid soils. It grows along the coastal shores and on moist open hillsides. It suits hardiness zone 4.

Countries/locations it is found in

Alaska, Australia, Britain, Canada, Europe, Ireland, North America, Siberia, Tasmania, USA

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten raw or cooked. They are slightly bitter so are best mixed with other leaves. The young leaves are mixed into salads and eaten raw. They can also be cooked briefly and eaten as a green vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, flowers

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Claytonia alsinoides Sims; Claytonia assarifolia Bong.; Claytonia bulbifera A. Gray; Limnia alsinoides (Sims) Haw.; Limnia bulbifera (A. Gray) A. Heller; Montia alsinoides (Sims) Pax & K. Hoffm.; Montia bulbifera (A. Gray) Howell; Montia sibirica (L.) Howell; and others