Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Asteraceae

Genus:

Lactuca

Species:

Lactuca floridana

USDA Symbol:

LAFL

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Annual | Biennial

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

210 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade,Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Medium

Bloom Months:

jul,aug,sep,oct

Bloom Colors:

blue, lavender

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Butterflies & Moths:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds, butterflies, bees

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

good drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

Prefers woodland and forest edges

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days

Germination Time:

7–21 days

Notes:

Seeds germinate readily with light exposure; cold stratification improves germination rates.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI