Prickly Lettuce
Lactuca serriola
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is., Corse, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, East Aegean Is., Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Kriti, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Madeira, Morocco, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Sinai, Somalia, Spain, Sudan-South Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yemen
Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Lactuca
- Species:
- Lactuca serriola
- USDA Symbol:
- LASE
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual | Biennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Agrotis orthogonia, Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Thyraylia bunteana, Western yellowstriped armyworm (Spodoptera praefica)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- poor, sandy, well-drained soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in disturbed areas with low fertility
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily without pretreatment. Light may improve germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI