Lactuca canadensis (Wild Lettuce)
| Also known as: | Canadian Lettuce |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Lactuca |
| Family: | Asteraceae (Aster) |
| Life cycle: | annual, biennial |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | shade, sun; edges of woods, along roads |
| Bloom season: | July - September |
| Plant height: | 4 to 10 feet |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | GP: FACU MW: FACU NCNE: FACU |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
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Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flower]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/lactuca-canadensis-24.jpg)
Open branching cluster of stalked flowers at the tip of the plant and arising from leaf axils in the upper plant. The tiny dandelion-like flowers are ¼ to 1/3 inch across with 15 to 20 rays (petals) with a few teeth at the tip of a ray. Color is typically yellow but may be tinged red or orange. The bracts are variable in size, green often with purple tips, hairless, overlapping, appressed, and form a tube about ½ inch long.
Leaves:
![[photo of leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/yellow/wild-lettuce-100_2116.jpg)
Leaves are quite variable, often deeply lobed towards the base of the plant, up to 12 inches long and to 6 inches wide, gradually becoming smaller, smooth-edged and unlobed at the top. The lobes may be broad or narrow; the uppermost leaves may be broad or narrow as well. Surfaces are usually hairless except for sparse hairs along the midvein on the underside. Leaf edges are often wavy and toothless or with a few small teeth.
![[photo of stem and clasping leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/lactuca-canadensis-41.jpg)
Leaves are mostly stalkless and are often clasping with a pair of small lobes (auricles) at the base. Stems are mostly smooth, green to purplish or spotted purple, sometimes with a waxy bloom, and unbranched except in the flower clusters.
Fruit:
![[photo of fruit]](/udata/r9ndp23q/yellow/wild-lettuce-100_2138.jpg)
Flower heads form seed heads about 1-inch in diameter with the bracts spreading out as seed matures. Seed is brown, flattened, oval-elliptic, with a long, slender beak at least half as long as the seed body. At the tip of the beak is a tuft of white hairs to carry it off in the wind.
Notes:
This is a highly variable species, particularly in leaf shape. In some references, these various shapes are treated as separate varieties but they are not recognized in Minnesota. Wild Lettuce grows in a variety of conditions, from shady, moist woods to dry, gravelly roadsides. When seed is present, it is easily distinguished by the long, slender beak on the seeds, which more or less resembles a stalk, at the tip of which is the tuft of white hairs. Most similar, and may be found in similar habitats, is Tall Blue Lettuce (Lactuca biennis), which is further distinguished by its short, stout beak and light brown hairs on the seeds, and leaves with winged stalks that are not clasping and often have hairs on major veins, not just the leaf midrib.
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More photos
roadside Wild Lettuce
Wild Lettuce in woodland habitat
clusters arising from leaf axils
red-tinged flowers
orange-tinged flowers
leaves with narrow lobes
a spindly plant
roadside Wild Lettuce
Wild Lettuce in woodland habitat
clusters arising from leaf axils
red-tinged flowers
orange-tinged flowers
leaves with narrow lobes
a spindly plantAll photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN, July-August 2006.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2009-08-06 19:33:09
The flowers on the ones in my yard are always deep yellow, wonder if it's sensitive to soil pH like some other flowers?
on: 2017-03-31 14:29:35
Being a Minnesota girl we always teased that dandelions were Minnesota's state flower. I do know Lady's Slipper. so my question is...are dandelions considered wild lettuce?
on: 2017-03-31 17:39:16
Denise, while dandelion leaves may be used in salads they are not considered a lettuce. The genus Lactuca is commonly called lettuce.
on: 2017-12-06 16:58:43
I would like to know if I can find this Wild Lettuce in our area. I think that I do know what I am looking for from the description. Thank you, Deb
on: 2017-12-06 17:07:18
Is there Wild Lettuce growing wild in my city? I do live in the rural area of Nashwauk. Thank you.
on: 2017-12-06 17:10:25
Debra and Barb, we do not track populations of any particular species ourselves so we can't tell you specifically where to find Lactuca. Locations designated on the county distribution maps come from the Bell Museum of Natural History specimen collections, and those populations may or may not have persisted. You can check the Bell Atlas online if you're interested.
on: 2018-06-20 07:48:18
I have identified two plants in this area that have the same pain relief that is associated with Wild lattice. I believe they are wild lattice although one is a very large plant with very large leaves. The other looks like prickly lattice on my land.
on: 2018-07-11 10:54:34
Found 2 Canadian Lettuce plants growing in my yard. 5 feet tall.
on: 2018-11-27 10:36:32
A trick I learned to distinguish this species from L. biennis is the sap color. Orangish in L. canadensis, white in L. biennis. Useful when the plants are not in flower.
on: 2021-07-20 16:01:41
This is now growing in my yard as a volunteer. I have a wildlife habitat with native plants so now that I know it is native, I am going to make a place for it.
on: 2022-08-14 13:21:50
How found two plants at my cabin. Is it invasive?
on: 2022-08-14 14:48:06
Donnelle, native species aren't generally considered "invasive" in their natural habitats, though some can certainly be aggressive in cultivation. In its natural setting, this species is not very aggressive.
on: 2023-07-27 10:03:56
I m pretty sure i found some lettuce growing in my back yard ,hope it is any way im dryibg the leafs as we speak and hope its true with helping pain , doing alot of research also just to make sure ,. Let u know how it trunes out ,god bless