Tall Blue Lettuce

(Lactuca biennis)

Tall Blue Lettuce (Lactuca biennis)

Melissa McMasters

CC BY 2.0

Image By: Melissa McMasters

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Copyright Notice: Photo by: Melissa McMasters | License Type: CC BY 2.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ | Uploader: cricketsblog | Publisher: Flickr

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Lactuca biennis, commonly known as Tall Blue Lettuce, is an annual or biennial herb that is native to a variety of habitats including open woodlands, forest edges, meadows, and disturbed sites across the Eastern, Central, and Northwestern USA, as well as parts of Canada. It can grow from a taproot to heights ranging from 20 inches to over 13 feet (0.5 to 4 meters). This plant features deeply lobed, toothed leaves along the stem, and at the top, it bears a multibranched inflorescence with numerous flower heads. Each head measures just over a centimeter (0.4 inches) wide and contains many whitish to light blue ray florets, but no disc florets. The flowering season typically occurs in late summer.

Tall Blue Lettuce is appreciated for its naturalistic appearance and is often used in wildflower gardens, meadow plantings, and for ecological restoration projects. It is relatively low-maintenance, requiring medium amounts of water and can adapt to soils with slow, medium, or fast drainage. It thrives best in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. While not commonly used in traditional garden settings, it can add height and a touch of color to naturalized areas. One potential problem with Lactuca biennis is that it may self-seed prolifically, which can lead to unwanted spread in garden settings.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Herb
Height: 2-10 feet
Width: 1-2 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: N/A
Flowering Season: Summer
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun
Water: Medium
Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow

Common Uses

Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Low Maintenance

Natural Habitat

Open woodlands, forest edges, meadows, and disturbed sites

Other Names

Common Names: Biennial Lettuce , Blue Wood Lettuce , Wild Blue Lettuce , Woodland Lettuce , Laitue Bisannuelle

Scientific Names: Lactuca biennis , Lactuca spicata , Lactuca biennis f. integrifolia , Lactuca biennis f. aurea , Lactuca spicata var. integrifolia , Lactuca biennis f. biennis , Lactuca terrae-novae , Agathyrsus floridanus , Cicerbita canadensis var. integrifolia , Cicerbita spicata

GBIF Accepted Name: Lactuca biennis (Moench) Fernald