Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Caution

Can Alpacas Eat Purslane?

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) — a weed. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team
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Use caution — it depends on the amount and the situation.

Occasional nibbles are usually tolerated, but problems occur with large amounts, certain plant stages or vulnerable animals.

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)
Purslane (Portulaca oleracea). Photo: ZooFari, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Caution
Scientific name
Portulaca oleracea
Family
Portulacaceae
Plant type
Weed
Also known as
verdolaga, red root, pusley, moss rose, little hogweed, common purslane
Toxic parts
Leaves and stems in quantity
Toxic compound
Soluble oxalates

Why it matters

Fine as an occasional nibble; avoid feeding garden purslane in bulk.

Signs of purslane poisoning in alpacas

  • Weakness, trembling, low blood calcium
  • Depression and lying down

If your alpaca ate a lot of purslane

  1. Remove access and estimate how much was eaten.
  2. Watch for the signs listed above over the next 24–72 hours.
  3. Call your vet if any signs appear or if a pregnant, young or sick animal ate a large amount.
  4. Reduce the plant in your pasture and keep good forage available so alpacas aren't driven to eat it.

About the plant

Portulaca oleracea is a succulent plant in the family Portulacaceae. All parts of the plant are edible raw or cooked.From Wikipedia — “Portulaca oleracea”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 198,738 recorded observations of Portulaca oleracea L. worldwide, including 28,726 in the United States. It belongs to the Portulacaceae family. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is purslane poisonous to alpacas?
It can be. Use caution — it depends on the amount and the situation. Fine as an occasional nibble; avoid feeding garden purslane in bulk.
What part of purslane is toxic to alpacas?
Leaves and stems in quantity.
What are the symptoms of purslane poisoning?
Weakness, trembling, low blood calcium and depression and lying down.
Is dried purslane safe?
Drying does not reliably make poisonous plants safe. Treat dried leaves and contaminated hay with the same caution.

Keeping pastures safe

  • Walk every paddock and fence line each season and remove toxic plants, including roots.
  • Never throw garden, hedge or lawn clippings over the fence.
  • Check pastures after storms for fallen branches (cherry, red maple).
  • Buy hay from known sources and inspect it for weeds.
  • Keep pastures well managed — hungry alpacas eat plants they would normally avoid.

Browse the full toxic plant checker, the printable list of poisonous plants and the list of safe plants.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.

Data: plant status compiled from veterinary toxicology references (see sources); taxonomy and occurrences from GBIF; identifiers from Wikidata Q158015.