Plants

fameflower

Talinum paniculatum

Family: Talinaceae · Genus: Talinum

jewels-of-Opar, panicled fameflower

Placenta I Low No biomass production

A perennial succulent herb in the Talinaceae, native to the Americas and common as an unconventional food plant (PANC) and a volunteer in gardens. It has a tuberous taproot, fleshy leaves, and airy panicles of small pink flowers followed by globose fruits. The young leaves and shoots are eaten cooked or in salads and are rich in protein and minerals.

📚 Synonyms

Scientific synonyms: Portulaca paniculata Jacq., Talinum patens (Jacq.) Willd.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage: Placenta I
Ecological role: Pioneer
Primary stratum: Low
Strata: Low, Ground cover
Biomass class: No biomass production

Environment

Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: Moderate
Drought tolerance: High
Waterlogging tolerance: Low
Soil pH range: 5.5–7.5
Preferred soil texture: Loamy, Sandy
Hardiness zones: 9–12
Frost tolerance: 0.0 °C

Morphology

Mature height: 0.3–1 m
Recommended spacing: 0.3–0.5 m
Root system: Taproot
Root depth: Medium
Growth rate: Fast
Lifespan: 2–5 years
Time to first harvest: 3 months
Productive lifespan: 3 years

Biomes & climate

Atlantic Forest Native
Cerrado Native
Amazon Native

Köppen classes

Tropical savanna with dry winter (Aw) Suitable
Tropical monsoon (Am) Suitable
Humid subtropical (Cfa) Suitable
Subtropical with dry winter (Cwa) Suitable

Where it fits in a guild

Fameflower takes the Low stratum in the Placenta I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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✂️ Management & Pruning

Harvest cut-and-come-again from the leaves and young shoots, leaving the base with its tuberous root, which resprouts vigorously. Pinch the tips to bush out the clump and remove the flowering panicles when tender leaf is the goal, prolonging the vegetative phase.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: November, December, January, February, March

Fruiting months: December, January, February, March, April

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of fameflower?

The first harvest of fameflower comes around 3 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for fameflower?

The recommended spacing for fameflower is 0.3–0.5 m.

How tall does fameflower grow?

At maturity, fameflower reaches 0.3–1 m tall.

When does fameflower fruit?

Fruiting of fameflower occurs in December, January, February, March, April.

When does fameflower flower?

Flowering of fameflower occurs in November, December, January, February, March.

What stage and stratum does fameflower occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, fameflower belongs to the placenta i stage, occupying the low stratum.

Functions

Medicinal Ground cover Ornamental 🐝 Attracts pollinators

Propagation

Seed, Cutting, Division

Citations

Wikipedia (Talinum paniculatum) (description, root_system, propagation, height_max_m)
GBIF (scientific_name, family, synonyms, external_ids)
Kinupp & Lorenzi, Plantas Alimentícias Não Convencionais (PANC) no Brasil (common_names, description)
Kinupp & Lorenzi, Plantas Alimentícias Não Convencionais (PANC) no Brasil (pruning_notes, lifespan_years_min, lifespan_years_max, productive_lifespan_years, time_to_first_harvest_months)