Prickly Lettuce.

En un coup d'œil

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Annual or Biennial

Light

Full sun

Indoor light

direct

Water

Every 7 to 14 days

Mature size

Up to 6 feet tall

Growth rate

fast

Hardiness

USDA 3 to 10

Bloom time

Summer

Entretien

This plant is very low maintenance and thrives in well-drained soil. It readily self-seeds, so it can spread quickly in favorable conditions. Deadheading can help control its spread if desired.

Watering

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry; drought tolerant once established.

Feeding

Does not require regular fertilizing; can grow in poor soil.

Pruning

Prune to maintain shape or remove spent flower stalks to prevent excessive seeding.

Repotting

Typically grown as an annual or biennial; not usually repotted.

Soil

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

Any

Temperature

-18 to 35°C

Humidity

20 to 50%

Sécurité

Edibility

While young leaves can be eaten, they become very bitter with age. Best to avoid consuming mature plants.

Comment l'identifier

• Spiny, toothed leaves
• Tall, erect stem
• Yellow, dandelion-like flowers
• Milky sap when cut
• Often has a basal rosette

Height

0.6 to 1.8m

Spread

0.3 to 0.6m

Leaves

Green, Blue-green, Annual or Biennial

Flowers

Yellow, 1 to 2cm

Problèmes courants

• Aphids — Small, sap-sucking insects that can cluster on new growth.
• Powdery Mildew — A white, powdery fungal growth on leaves, common in humid conditions.

La cultiver

Propagation

Seed

When to plant

Spring, Fall

As a fast-growing annual, it doesn't have many specific companion planting benefits in a traditional garden guild.

Espèces similaires

• Garden Lettuce — Shares a common ancestor and general leaf shape, though garden lettuce lacks the spiny margins and bitterness.
• Wild Lettuce — Similar in growth habit and milky sap, but typically has less spiny leaves and is known for different properties.

Science

Family

Asteraceae

Genus

Lactuca

Order

Asterales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Europe, North Africa, Western Asia

It thrives in open, disturbed habitats like roadsides, fields, and waste areas, often colonizing bare ground quickly.

Value to wildlife

nectar source

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, moths

Uses

Wildflower, Attracts pollinators

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

Is prickly lettuce edible?

Young leaves can be eaten, but they quickly become very bitter. It's generally not recommended for consumption.

Will prickly lettuce spread aggressively?

Yes, it readily self-seeds and can spread quickly in disturbed areas or gardens.

What do the flowers look like?

They are small, yellow, and resemble dandelion flowers.

Does it need special soil?

No, it's adaptable and grows in a variety of well-drained soils.

D'où vient le nom

The common name 'Prickly Lettuce' comes from the sharp, spiny edges of its leaves. The scientific name 'Lactuca' is Latin for 'milk', referring to the milky sap, and 'serriola' is derived from 'serra', Latin for 'saw', referencing the leaf margins.

Bon à savoir

• It's thought to be one of the wild ancestors of modern garden lettuce.
• The leaves tend to twist and point downwards, acting like a compass needle in the sun.
• It can grow quite tall, sometimes reaching over six feet.