Is this plant edible?

Young leaves are edible, but they become very bitter as the plant matures.

Why is it called a compass plant?

The leaves rotate to face north and south to avoid the intense sun.

Plant guide

prickly lettuce.

Lactuca serriola

Pronounced lak-TOO-kuh ser-ee-OH-luh

Also known as China lettuce

Prickly lettuce is a hardy annual or biennial herb that often grows in disturbed areas. It is known for its tall, upright stem and leaves that twist to align with the sun. You might recognize it as a wild relative of the common garden lettuce.

Another photo of prickly lettuce — Photo by Analía Belaus (CC0) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: herbaceous annual
Light: full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 6 feet
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 4 to 9
Bloom time: Mid to late summer

Care

This plant thrives in full sun and well drained soil with minimal intervention. Watch for excessive height in low light, which can cause the stem to lean or flop. It is very drought tolerant once established.

Watering: Water only when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Fertilizing is typically unnecessary as this plant thrives in poor, disturbed soils.
Pruning: Remove spent flower stalks to prevent unwanted seed dispersal in your garden.
Repotting: This plant is rarely grown in containers and does not require repotting.
Soil: well draining sandy or loamy soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: -15 to 35°C
Humidity: 30 to 70%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Annual or biennial, typically 1 to 2 years.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Safety

People: The milky sap can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Pets: This plant is generally considered non toxic to cats and dogs.
Children: The milky sap is bitter and potentially irritating if ingested in large quantities, so keep away from small children.
Contact allergens: The milky latex sap may cause skin irritation upon contact.
Airborne allergens: Pollen can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals during the flowering season.
Edibility: While young leaves are edible, older leaves become extremely bitter and contain high levels of latex that can cause digestive upset.

How to identify it

stiff prickles along leaf midribs
leaves twist to face sun
milky white sap when cut
small yellow dandelion like flowers
deeply lobed or entire leaves

Height: 0.3 to 2m
Spread: 0.15 to 0.45m
Leaves: blue-green, grey-green, deciduous
Flowers: yellow, 1 to 2cm
Fruit: brown, tan, Autumn

Problems to watch for

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: The plant typically dies back to the ground in winter, leaving seeds to germinate in the spring.
In containers: It is not recommended for containers as it has a deep taproot and spreads aggressively by seed.

Seed

Collect mature seeds in late autumn once the flower heads turn fluffy.
Sow seeds directly onto disturbed soil in early spring or autumn.
Lightly cover with soil and keep moist until germination occurs.

This plant is best grown in wild meadow areas rather than formal garden beds due to its aggressive seeding habit.

Grows well with

Common Yarrow — They share similar soil and light requirements in open fields.
Common Chicory — Both are hardy, drought tolerant plants that thrive in similar disturbed habitats.

Similar species

Prickly Lettuce — It shares a similar appearance and milky sap but has different leaf serration patterns.

Science

Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Lactuca
Order: Asterales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa.
Conservation: This species is considered an invasive weed in many regions outside its native range.

It is a pioneer species that quickly colonizes disturbed ground and waste areas.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, larval host plant
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: foraging, wildlife habitat

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Light: 8/9
Nutrients: 6/9
Soil reaction: 7/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 4/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is this plant edible?: Young leaves are edible, but they become very bitter as the plant matures.
Why is it called a compass plant?: The leaves rotate to face north and south to avoid the intense sun.

Where the name comes from

The name Lactuca comes from the Latin word for milk, referring to the milky sap, while serriola refers to the serrated leaf edges.

Good to know

It is the wild ancestor of the common garden lettuce.
The plant produces a milky latex that was historically used in folk medicine.
It is highly adaptable and thrives in disturbed soils and roadsides.

Also in

Drought-tolerant plants

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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.