Is nipplewort a weed?

Yes, it is often classified as a weed because it spreads easily in gardens.

Yes, the young leaves are edible and taste similar to lettuce.

Plant guide

Nipplewort.

Lapsana communis

Pronounced lap-SAH-nuh kom-YOO-nis

Also known as Common Nipplewort, Dock-cress

Nipplewort is a common annual herb often found in woodland edges and disturbed soil. It produces small, yellow, dandelion like flowers on slender, branching stems. It is a hardy plant that spreads easily through seed.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Annual herb
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 3 to 4 feet
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 4 to 9
Bloom time: Late spring to mid summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged to mimic its natural woodland habitat. Watch for aphids on the flower buds and remove spent blooms to prevent unwanted self seeding. It thrives best in cool, shady spots.

Watering: Water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer sparingly during the active growing season.
Pruning: Deadhead faded flowers regularly to encourage more blooms and stop seed dispersal.
Repotting: Since it is an annual, you will typically replace the plant each year rather than repotting it.
Soil: Moist, fertile, well draining soil
Soil pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline
Temperature: -20 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 80%

Safety

People: This plant is not considered toxic to humans.
Children: There are no specific safety concerns for children, though ingestion of any wild plant should be supervised.
Contact allergens: The sap may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: Pollen may trigger mild allergic reactions in sensitive people.
Edibility: While young leaves are edible, they can become bitter as the plant matures.

How to identify it

Small yellow flower heads
Thin, branching, hairy stems
Lyrate shaped basal leaves
Milky sap in stems

Height: 0.3 to 1.2m
Spread: 0.2 to 0.4m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: yellow, 1 to 2cm
Fruit: brown, Late summer

Problems to watch for

AphidsCommon
Powdery MildewCommon
Slugs and SnailsCommon
RustUncommon

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring, autumn

It grows best in shaded areas with consistent moisture.

Grows well with

Stinging Nettle · They share similar woodland edge habitats.
Ground Ivy · Both plants thrive in shaded, moist garden spots.

Similar species

Dandelion · Both have yellow flowers and are members of the Asteraceae family.

Science

Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Lapsana
Order: Asterales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe and parts of Western Asia.
Conservation: This plant is widespread and not of conservation concern.

It thrives in disturbed, nutrient rich soils often found in hedgerows and woodland clearings.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: foraging, wildlife gardens

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 4/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 6/9
Nutrients: 7/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is nipplewort a weed?: Yes, it is often classified as a weed because it spreads easily in gardens.
Can I eat it?: Yes, the young leaves are edible and taste similar to lettuce.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Lapsana comes from the Greek word for a type of edible cress, while the species name communis means common.

Good to know

The common name nipplewort comes from its historical use in folk medicine to treat breast ailments.
It is a member of the daisy family.
The plant is often found in shady, moist areas.

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.