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trefle.io · Taken Aug 25, 2018 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)
Asteraceae
Milk thistle
Lactuca serriola
Also known as Lactuca serriola subsp. integrifolia, Lactuca verticalis, Lactuca virosa, Lactuca serriola f. serriola
Zones 4–10Sun Full SunWater ModerateCare Low
Native Plants · Edibles & Herbs · Wild · Edible · Lettuce · Medicinal · Drought · Hardy · Self-Seeding · Forage · Bitter
Pet-safeBeginner-friendlyMedicinalAttracts pollinators
In stock at 3 nurseriesStock updated 9/6/2026
Prickly lettuce is an easy-care wild edible that thrives in poor soils and requires minimal attention. This hardy annual self-seeds readily and tolerates drought once established. Young leaves can be harvested for salads, though they become bitter as the plant matures and flowers.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 6 hours
- Watering
- Water moderately and allow soil to dry between waterings · Every 7-10 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- sandy loam
- Soil pH
- 7–7.5
- Temperature
- -30°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 4a-10b
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Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 2 ft – 5 ft
- Spread
- 3 ft
- Spacing
- 18 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Deep
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Afghanistan, Alabama, Albania, Alberta, Algeria, Altay, Amur, Arizona, Arkansas, Assam, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil South, British Columbia
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies
Sources: trefle, usda
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Twin Oaks Valley Greenhouses
$1.99–$6.25Distance unavailable · 2245 North Twin Oaks Valley Road, San Marcos, CA 92069
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