Botanical Name: Portulaca grandiflora ‘Pazzaz® Mega Red’

Common Name: Moss Rose

Hardiness Zone: Grown as an Annual in Most Climates (USDA Zones 2–11)

Size: 6–10" Tall × 12–18" Spread

Growth Habit: Low-Growing, Spreading, Well-Branched Habit

Sunlight: Full Sun

Soil: Well-Drained, Sandy or Lean Soil Preferred

Water Needs: Low; Drought Tolerant Once Established

Bloom Season: Late Spring Through Frost

Fertilizer: Minimal; Light Feeding Encourages Continuous Blooming

Features: Large Red Blooms, Excellent Heat Tolerance, Fast Coverage

Uses: Ideal for Sunny Beds, Borders, Containers, Rock Gardens, and Hanging Baskets

Patent: ✔ Patented

Propagation: ❌ Propagation Prohibited Without License

See our complete Portulaca Plant Guide for more care details

More About Portulaca ‘Pazzaz® Mega Red’

Portulaca ‘Pazzaz® Mega Red’ is a bold, high-impact selection in the Pazzaz® Series, bred for oversized flowers and reliable performance in extreme heat. Its vivid red blooms open wide in full sun, delivering saturated color that holds strong even during the hottest summer days.

This variety spreads evenly to create a dense carpet of foliage and flowers, making it especially effective for filling hot, dry spaces quickly. With minimal water and maintenance, it provides continuous, eye-catching color from late spring through frost.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our trials, Pazzaz® Mega Red consistently impressed with its strong flower size, uniform growth, and outstanding heat tolerance. Plants remained full and floriferous with very little water, making it an excellent choice for tough, sun-baked areas where dependable summer color is essential.

Pazzaz® Mega Red vs. Other Portulaca Varieties

Pazzaz® Mega Red is the boldest and most intense color option among the group, delivering rich, true red blooms that hold their saturation even in extreme summer heat. Pazzaz® Mega Dark Pink offers similarly large flowers with a slightly softer tone, but Mega Red provides stronger contrast and visual punch in beds and mass plantings.

Compared to the Color Blast® Series—such as Double Guava and Plumberry—Pazzaz® Mega Red stands apart for its more upright, mounded habit. Color Blast® varieties are bred for trailing growth and shine in containers and baskets, with Double Guava offering lush double blooms and Plumberry delivering deep, dramatic color. For bold red blooms and strong performance in sunny beds, Pazzaz® Mega Red is the better choice, while Color Blast® selections excel where cascading form is desired.