Mountain Lettuce (Lactuca perennis)

1 well-established plant in a 9cm pot, sent in plastic-free packaging. A highly ornamental, drought-resistant herbaceous perennial, prized for its edible grey-green foliage and striking violet-blue flowers.

Perennial | 40/60cm tall | Full sun | Edible spring leaves and chicory-like blooms | Highly drought-tolerant and premium pollinator forage

Lactuca perennis (often referred to as Perennial Blue Lettuce) is a hardy member of the Asteraceae (daisy) family, native to central and southern Europe. In the kitchen, it is cultivated as a highly valuable perennial salad crop. The smooth, deeply lobed, glaucous (grey-green) leaves offer a mild, pleasant flavour when harvested young in the early spring, acting as an excellent, low-maintenance substitute for traditional annual lettuce. As the plant matures and prepares to flower, it produces a milky white sap (latex) containing naturally occurring bittering agents. Therefore, its best to harvest leaves early in the season or growing the plant in a shaded, cooler spot to ensure the tenderest, sweetest crop.

 Mountain Lettuce is a pretty addition to a wildlife-friendly garden. In mid-summer, the plant produces an abundance of large, highly ornamental violet-blue flowers that closely resemble chicory (Cichorium intybus). These brightly coloured, open-faced blooms are an absolute magnet for foraging insects. They provide a highly accessible, premium nectar and pollen resource. Is adaptation to growing on arid, rocky slopes means it develops a deep, resilient taproot that excels at finding moisture, making it a highly functional pioneer plant for dry, poor-quality soils.

Mountain lettuce holds an RHS H6 hardiness rating; the plant is completely frost-hardy and will easily survive extreme winter freezing down to -20°C, dying back entirely to a dormant crown. However, it can struggle with winter wet; if planted in heavy, waterlogged clay, the fleshy crown and taproot will rapidly succumb to fungal rot. It needs a position in full sun and highly free-draining soil. Incorporating horticultural grit into the planting hole or positioning it in a raised gravel bed or rockery is highly recommended.

Delivery Information

All plants are carefully packed and sent in plastic-free packaging to protect both the plant and the environment. Plants are dispatched promptly so they arrive fresh, healthy, and ready to plant.

We ship orders using a tracked 24-hour delivery service, helping to minimise time in transit and reduce stress on the plant. Orders are packed by hand at the nursery, and we aim to dispatch early in the week to avoid delays over weekends.

If you have any questions about delivery timing or combining orders, please get in touch before ordering and we will be happy to help.

To find out more about other plants for your garden visit – https://dyfiplants.substack.com