Description
Wild Lettuce plant, Lactuca virosa, is also known as Prickly Lettuce. Wild Lettuce was probably the source of the modern, cultivated lettuce. The milky sap, “lactucarium”, was used as a painkiller in ancient Europe. Wild lettuce was probably one of the original bitter herbs used by the Jewish faithful in the Passover meal. Wild Lettuce plant is native to the Mediterranean region and prefers light, well-drained soils in an open, sunny position. Drought and frost tender. A biennial plant, growing to 1.5m x 1.0m.