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Lactuca (Lactuca)
Lactuca is a genus of leafy vegetables in the aster family. Several species in this genus are widely cultivated as nutritious vegetable crops, rich in vitamins. While there is some variation in the appearance of the asparagus and cabbage members of the genus, all lactuca are characterized by closely packed, curled leaves.
Lifespan
Annual, Biennial
Plant Type
Vegetable
Key Facts About Lactuca
Feedback
Attributes of Lactuca
Leaf type
Deciduous
Ideal Temperature
20 - 35 ℃
Scientific Classification of Lactuca
Distribution of Lactuca
Feedback
Distribution Map of Lactuca
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Lactuca
Feedback
Lactuca desires a condition mimicking its native habitat. It requires full sun exposure, yet can withstand partial shade. Regular watering is necessary but avoid waterlogged soil. Preferred temperature ranges between 45-65°F; and a pH-neutral to slightly acidic, well-draining soil. Common challenges involve pests like aphids, slugs, and diseases like lettuce root aphid or downy mildew. Seasonal considerations include planting in spring or autumn when temperatures are cooler, as high summer temperatures may cause bolting.
How to Water Lactuca?
What Are the Sunlight Requirements for Lactuca?
How to Propagate Lactuca?
How to Plant Lactuca?
Exploring the Lactuca Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
Prickly lettuce
Prickly lettuce, in spite of its appearance, is the closest wild relative of cultivated lettuce. Even though it is widely considered a weed, it can be used in the kitchen. Young leaves of prickly lettuce are edible and the bitter milky latex can also be made into a condiment or to add flavor to salads. Consuming in large quantities could cause digestive upsets.
Garden lettuce
Garden lettuce (*Lactuca sativa*) is a hardy annual plant commonly cultivated as a leafy vegetable. The earliest evidence of its cultivation goes all the way back to Ancient Egypt. Its leaves are often used for making salads, and they are an excellent source of vitamins K and A.
Canada lettuce
Canada lettuce (Lactuca canadensis) is a species of wild lettuce native to eastern and central North America. It can thrive in a variety of natural environments, including moist to dry habitats. Canada lettuce flowers have a similar appearance to those of dandelions, so the plant is often written off as a simple lawn weed.
Wall lettuce
Wall lettuce (Lactuca muralis) is a lean and hairless herb that normally grows from 25 to 150 cm tall. With red-tinged leaves, it often has purplish stems and percolates a milky juice. The leaves are often used in mixed salads.
Tall blue lettuce
Tall blue lettuce (Lactuca biennis) is a species of wild lettuce. It is technically related to what we think of as lettuce, but that does not mean tall blue lettuce is edible. It grows across the United States and Canada, including in Alaska. It is a common weed that likes to grow on disturbed lands at the edges of human habitation.
Woodland lettuce
Woodland lettuce is an annual or biennial herb that is found in waste areas and wooded regions. Woodland lettuce is often considered a common weed. However, it is edible, and its leaves can be included in a salad or boiled.
Wild lettuce
Wild lettuce (Lactuca virosa) is commonly found mingling with wildflowers along roadsides and open prairies in the northern hemisphere. Dandelion-like flower shoots can surprisingly reach up to 1.8 m high from the low-mounding foliage, although wild lettuce is actually a distant relative of the Aster!
Mountain lettuce
Mountain lettuce is sun-loving and is often found in rocky, dry terrains where shade is limited. It depends on insects for pollination and is frost resistant. It may be easily mistaken for "chickory" (cichorium intybus) when in bloom.
All Species of Lactuca
Prickly lettuce
Prickly lettuce
Prickly lettuce, in spite of its appearance, is the closest wild relative of cultivated lettuce. Even though it is widely considered a weed, it can be used in the kitchen. Young leaves of prickly lettuce are edible and the bitter milky latex can also be made into a condiment or to add flavor to salads. Consuming in large quantities could cause digestive upsets.
Garden lettuce
Garden lettuce
Garden lettuce (*Lactuca sativa*) is a hardy annual plant commonly cultivated as a leafy vegetable. The earliest evidence of its cultivation goes all the way back to Ancient Egypt. Its leaves are often used for making salads, and they are an excellent source of vitamins K and A.
Canada lettuce
Canada lettuce
Canada lettuce (Lactuca canadensis) is a species of wild lettuce native to eastern and central North America. It can thrive in a variety of natural environments, including moist to dry habitats. Canada lettuce flowers have a similar appearance to those of dandelions, so the plant is often written off as a simple lawn weed.
Wall lettuce
Wall lettuce
Wall lettuce (Lactuca muralis) is a lean and hairless herb that normally grows from 25 to 150 cm tall. With red-tinged leaves, it often has purplish stems and percolates a milky juice. The leaves are often used in mixed salads.
Tall blue lettuce
Tall blue lettuce
Tall blue lettuce (Lactuca biennis) is a species of wild lettuce. It is technically related to what we think of as lettuce, but that does not mean tall blue lettuce is edible. It grows across the United States and Canada, including in Alaska. It is a common weed that likes to grow on disturbed lands at the edges of human habitation.
Woodland lettuce
Woodland lettuce
Woodland lettuce is an annual or biennial herb that is found in waste areas and wooded regions. Woodland lettuce is often considered a common weed. However, it is edible, and its leaves can be included in a salad or boiled.
Wild lettuce
Wild lettuce
Wild lettuce (Lactuca virosa) is commonly found mingling with wildflowers along roadsides and open prairies in the northern hemisphere. Dandelion-like flower shoots can surprisingly reach up to 1.8 m high from the low-mounding foliage, although wild lettuce is actually a distant relative of the Aster!
Mountain lettuce
Mountain lettuce
Mountain lettuce is sun-loving and is often found in rocky, dry terrains where shade is limited. It depends on insects for pollination and is frost resistant. It may be easily mistaken for "chickory" (cichorium intybus) when in bloom.
Willowleaf lettuce
Willowleaf lettuce
Willowleaf lettuce is a weedy species in many parts of North America, where it's been introduced from Eurasia. It's an annual plant, growing on wastelands and near rivers and streams. Willowleaf lettuce produces tiny pale yellow flowers.
Indian lettuce
Indian lettuce
The plant can grow up to 2 m tall and has large, soft, non-shiny leaves. It initially produces rooted leaves in a rosette shape, but eventually develops a stem and inflorescence. Flowering occurs from summer to winter and the pale yellow flowers are about 2 cm in diameter. The flowers consist only of tongue-like petals, and the seeds are shaped like dandelion fluff.
Hairy-vein lettuce
Hairy-vein lettuce
Hairy-vein lettuce bears a tuft of basal leaves that forms a rosette, with leaves that may exhibit a distinctive purplish tinge at their bases. The leafy part supports elongated, branched stems crowned with small, yellow flower heads reminiscent of dandelions. Thriving in cool, moist environments, hairy-vein lettuce's growth reflects its adaptability to shaded or semi-shaded areas. Its seeds are equipped with a fluffy pappus, aiding in wind dispersal and ensuring propagation over a wider range.
Blue lettuce
Blue lettuce
Blue lettuce (Lactuca tatarica) grows in grasslands and meadows. The name is slightly misleading, since Blue lettuce's flowers are a bluish shade of mauve. This plant is pollinated by many species of moth.
Prickly lettuce
Prickly lettuce
Prickly lettuce is a wild lettuce known for hosting rust fungi. Its common name Candy flower comes from its petals which feature pink and white stripes similar to rock candy. It can become weedy, growing in wastelands and areas of human cultivation such as irrigation channels and arable fields.
Garden lettuce 'Lollo Rossa'
Garden lettuce 'Lollo Rossa'
Garden lettuce 'Lollo Rossa' is an Italian variety of Garden lettuce that has strongly curled red leaves. Unlike most lettuces, garden lettuce 'Lollo Rossa' does not have a head. It instead grows in bunches of loose leaves. This lettuce grows slightly less dense than other varieties and can be continuously harvested because it doesn't stop growing. The name 'Lollo Rossa' translates to 'red husk' in Italian.
Stem lettuce
Stem lettuce
Stem lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. angustata) is a cultivar of lettuce commonly grown and used as a vegetable in China, although it's believed it originated in the Mediterranean. The plant is cultivated both for its fleshy stem and green leaves. The tender leaves and stems of stem lettuce can be eaten raw or cooked and is often pickled, grilled, roasted, or stir-fried.
Garden lettuce 'All Year Round'
Garden lettuce 'All Year Round'
Garden lettuce 'All Year Round' is a lettuce cultivar named after its unique ability to grow at any time of the year. This hardy Lactuta is a long-established garden favorite whose origin dates back to the 19th century. From first seeding to harvesting typically takes around 70 to 80 days.
Lactuca triangulata
Lactuca triangulata
Lactuca triangulata features a distinct triangular leaf shape, which provides it an advantage in capturing sunlight in partially shaded environments. This medium-sized herbaceous plant exhibits a vibrant green hue with delicate, branching stems. It thrives in moist, well-drained soils and can often be found gracing the understory of woodlands, where its unique leaf form stands out amongst more common foliage shapes.
Lettuce
Lettuce
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. ramosa) is a leafy green vegetable that is often cultivated worldwide for commercial and personal gardens. The whole plant can be used for salads, soups, wraps, or sandwiches. Human cultivation of lettuce dates back to the 5th century in China, and there are now many different cultivars grown globally.
More Popular Genus
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Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
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About
Key Facts
Distribution
How To Care
All Species
More Genus
Lactuca
Lactuca
Lactuca is a genus of leafy vegetables in the aster family. Several species in this genus are widely cultivated as nutritious vegetable crops, rich in vitamins. While there is some variation in the appearance of the asparagus and cabbage members of the genus, all lactuca are characterized by closely packed, curled leaves.
Lifespan
Annual, Biennial
Plant Type
Vegetable
Key Facts About Lactuca
Feedback
Attributes of Lactuca
Leaf type
Deciduous
Ideal Temperature
20 - 35 ℃
Scientific Classification of Lactuca
Distribution of Lactuca
Feedback
Distribution Map of Lactuca
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Lactuca
Feedback
Lactuca desires a condition mimicking its native habitat. It requires full sun exposure, yet can withstand partial shade. Regular watering is necessary but avoid waterlogged soil. Preferred temperature ranges between 45-65°F; and a pH-neutral to slightly acidic, well-draining soil. Common challenges involve pests like aphids, slugs, and diseases like lettuce root aphid or downy mildew. Seasonal considerations include planting in spring or autumn when temperatures are cooler, as high summer temperatures may cause bolting.
How to Water Lactuca?
What Are the Sunlight Requirements for Lactuca?
How to Propagate Lactuca?
How to Plant Lactuca?
Exploring the Lactuca Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
Prickly lettuce
Prickly lettuce, in spite of its appearance, is the closest wild relative of cultivated lettuce. Even though it is widely considered a weed, it can be used in the kitchen. Young leaves of prickly lettuce are edible and the bitter milky latex can also be made into a condiment or to add flavor to salads. Consuming in large quantities could cause digestive upsets.
Garden lettuce
Garden lettuce (*Lactuca sativa*) is a hardy annual plant commonly cultivated as a leafy vegetable. The earliest evidence of its cultivation goes all the way back to Ancient Egypt. Its leaves are often used for making salads, and they are an excellent source of vitamins K and A.
Canada lettuce
Canada lettuce (Lactuca canadensis) is a species of wild lettuce native to eastern and central North America. It can thrive in a variety of natural environments, including moist to dry habitats. Canada lettuce flowers have a similar appearance to those of dandelions, so the plant is often written off as a simple lawn weed.
Wall lettuce
Wall lettuce (Lactuca muralis) is a lean and hairless herb that normally grows from 25 to 150 cm tall. With red-tinged leaves, it often has purplish stems and percolates a milky juice. The leaves are often used in mixed salads.
Show More Species
All Species of Lactuca
Prickly lettuce
Garden lettuce
Canada lettuce
Wall lettuce
Tall blue lettuce
Woodland lettuce
Wild lettuce
Mountain lettuce
Willowleaf lettuce
Indian lettuce
Hairy-vein lettuce
Blue lettuce
Prickly lettuce
Garden lettuce 'Lollo Rossa'
Stem lettuce
Garden lettuce 'All Year Round'
Lactuca triangulata
Lettuce
More Popular Genus
Feedback
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
Nearly 5 years of research
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
Continue reading in our app - it's better
A database of 400000+ plants
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
