Jewels of Opar ("Summer Lettuce") seeds

Jewels of Opar (Talinum paniculatum) 

Warm Season Vegetable, tuberous perennial can be grown as annual

Full Sun or Shade

Easy to Grow (container or in ground)

Edible leaves

Originally coming up as a weed in plants I bought through EARF (Earth Advocacy Research Foundation) in Summertown, TN, these plants were described by late permaculture and incredible plantsman, Adam Turtle to me as "summer lettuce." The mild, succulent (but lettuce-like) leaves thrive in the super hot weather (unlike lettuce, a cool season plant.) 

WARNING: These plants are quite tough and can become a weed -- I would be very hesitant to plant them in subtropical or very mild winter climates. 

They are quite attractive and are tolerant of drought, heat, compacted soil, and many other harsh conditions. The form a tuberous root, and thus are really good in arid climates even though they also thrive in the humid, jungle summer-like climate in Tennessee. 

Although in warmer winter areas where it can be a perennial shrub, it typically makes a plant a bit smaller than a lettuce plant and will quickly bolt (go to flower), so if this is something you want to make a salad of, you need to plant thick dense patches like you would cut and come again lettuce, as well as successive sowings throughout summer. 

We enjoy its beauty and as a random edible leaf to snack on while working in the nursery in the summer.