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.

Plant guide

Prickly Lettuce.

Lactuca serriola

Pronounced LAK-too-kuh ser-ee-OH-luh

Also known as China lettuce, Compass Plant, Compassplant

Prickly lettuce is an annual or biennial plant native to Eurasia and North Africa. It's known for its spiny leaves and ability to grow in disturbed areas. This plant is an ancestor of cultivated lettuce varieties.

At a glance

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

Care

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%

Safety

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

How to identify it

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

Common problems

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

Growing it

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.

Similar species

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

Through the year

JFMAMJJASOND

Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 7/9
Moisture: 3/9
Nutrients: 6/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

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.

Where the name comes from

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.

Good to know

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.

Is your prickly lettuce looking unwell?

This page is a general guide. Pocket Botanist diagnoses problems from a photo of your actual plant, works out watering for your light and conditions, and reminds you when care is due.

Get the app

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.