Canada Lettuce

Lactuca canadensis

Canada Lettuce

George F Mayfield from chicago area, USA

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Asteraceae
Genus:
Lactuca
Species:
Lactuca canadensis

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Annual | Biennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
12-20 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun, Part Shade
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
jul, aug, sep
Bloom Colors:
Orange, Yellow

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming, Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Yukon

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Alfalfa Looper (Autographa californica), Burdock Borer (Papaipema cataphracta), Cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni), Chain-lined geometer moth (Cingilia catenaria), Intermediate Hooded Owlet (Cucullia intermedia), Kodiosoma fulvum

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Confusing bumble bee (Bombus perplexus), Confusing bumble bee (Bombus perplexus), Tri-colored bumble bee (Bombus ternarius), Tri-colored bumble bee (Bombus ternarius), Two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus), Two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers open, sunny locations in native habitats

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Mix the seeds with an equal amount of either perlite or vermiculite. Seal mixture in a Ziploc-style bag or a Rubbermaid-style container, proceed with up to two months or more of cold moist stratification in a refrigerator or cold garage or sow the seeds directly outside in spring. Cold store until planted (up to 3 years).

Establishment: Seeds are collected by hand from locally native plants within the eastern central Upper Peninsula. The plant flowers from June to September and seeds are harvested in September and October.

Source: npn.rngr.net