Description
Lactuca virosa | Wild Lettuce
Wild Lettuce, also commonly known as Great Lettuce, Bitter Lettuce, Oplum Lettuce, Tall Lettuce, Giftsallat, and Rakutu Karyumu So, is a biennial relative of cultivated lettuce that is native to central and southern Europe, then naturalized in North America, Australia, and parts of the Indian subcontinent. Note that ‘Wild Lettuce’ is a common name for several lactucarium-containing plants related to lettuce (Lactuca). (Lac means “milk,” referring to the sap characteristic of this genus.) While the name most often refers to Lactuca virosa, it may also refer to:
- Lactuca canadensis (North America)
- Lactuca ludoviciana (NW America)
- Lactuca serriola (Southern Europe)
- Lactuca quercina (Eurasia)
- Lactuca floridana (North America)
Lactuca virosa is a biennial that starts out as a basal rosette the first year of growth and during the second year it bolts with wide spreading, bristled branches and stems that sport delicate yellow flowers that bloom briefly before withering by late afternoon each day. The leaves clasp onto the stem and have deep notches which define their unique shape. Plants are tall and erect, reaching up to 7 ft, and exude milky sap from the stems. When cut or torn, the plant secretes a milky juice known as lactucarium, which contains lactucin and lactupicrin, sesquiterpene lactones that provide the herbal properties Wild Lettuce is known for. It has the highest latex content and is the most cold hardy of all lettuces. The plant parts are often processed and ingested for their mild herbal effects.
Similar to Prickly Lettuce Lactuca serriola, only taller and with a less divided but more spreading shape. Plus L. Serriola is more pleasant to eat than L. virosa, having a more bitter flavor.
Commonly found growing in fields, banks, along roadsides, ditches, and waste places at elevations below 6500 ft.
Lactuca seeds germinate better with cooler temperatures, so it is recommended to start seeds naturally outdoors in late winter/early spring by lightly covering with soil, or if started indoors, don’t allow temps get too hot.
Type: Biennial
Sun exposure: Full sun to part shade
Mature height: 5-7 ft
Mature width: 1-3 ft
Hardiness zones: 5-9
