This pretty little annual from Brazil grows about 6 inches tall and produces many flowers about an inch in size that open every morning in the sunshine and form a carpet of color. The shining petals of the roselike single or double blossoms appear in shades of rose, salmon, pink, scarlet, orange, yellow and white. Its narrow, fleshy leaves are almost hidden by the flowers, which open only in sunshine.

Portulaca Grandiflora

Insider's Secret

In a hot, dry location where most flowers will not grow, portulaca will prosper--on banks, along a driveway, in a rock garden, as a ground cover or in patio planters. To thrive, they need little more than sunshine and soil, preferably rather poor soil.