Native Plants

Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Enter a Plant Name:
Or you can choose a plant family:

Lynn, Janice

Lactuca canadensis

Lactuca canadensis L.

Canada Lettuce, Wild Lettuce

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s): Lactuca canadensis var. integrifolia, Lactuca canadensis var. latifolia, Lactuca canadensis var. longifolia, Lactuca canadensis var. obovata, Lactuca canadensis var. typica, Lactuca sagittifolia, Lactuca steelei

USDA Symbol: LACA

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Tall plant with elongated cluster of small pale yellow flower heads; foliage exudes milky juice when crushed; slight bloom present on stem and leaves. "Latex brownish". (Bibref: 281).

This rather large biennial is frequently found in disturbed sites. Its flowers are insignificant, and the leaves lack the spines of the similar Prickly Lettuce (L. serriola).

From the Image Gallery

12 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Biennial
Habit: Herb
Root Type: Tap
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Margin: Lobed
Inflorescence: Panicle , Terminal
Size Notes: Up to about 15 feet tall, often much shorter.
Flower: Flowers 1/3 inch
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Orange , Yellow , Blue
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
Canada: BC , MB , NB , NS , ON , PE , QC , SK
Native Distribution: Throughout much of North America, except far north.
Native Habitat: Clearings, thickets, and edges of woods.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low , Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade

Benefit

Use Food: Young leaves can be used in salads or as cooked greens, but have a slightly bitter taste. (Niering).
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FACU		FACU		FACU	FACU		FACU	FACU	FACU

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX

Bibliography

Bibref 281 - Shinners & Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas (1999) Diggs, G. M.; B. L. Lipscomb; B. O'Kennon; W. F...

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

USDA: Find Lactuca canadensis in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Lactuca canadensis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Lactuca canadensis

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-12-29
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back