Lactuca sativa

Lactuca sativa (lettuce) — the world's most popular salad leaf, grown since ancient Egypt, from crisp cos to soft butterhead and loose-leaf. The botanical home of our lettuce range.

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Lactuca sativa — lettuce

Lactuca sativa is the botanical name for lettuce, the most popular salad leaf in the world and a fast, easy annual in the daisy family (Asteraceae). It is the species behind our whole lettuce range within the leafy greens collection.

History & origin

Lettuce was first cultivated in ancient Egypt, grown more than 4,000 years ago — at first for the oil pressed from its seeds, and later for its leaves. The Egyptians considered it a sacred plant linked to the fertility god Min, and it appears in their tomb paintings. The Greeks and Romans took up lettuce enthusiastically as a salad and a supposed sleep aid, and from there it spread across Europe and, eventually, the world.

Its name points to the milky sap that seeps from a cut stem: Lactuca comes from the Latin lac, “milk,” while sativa means “cultivated.”

Botanical characteristics

Lettuce comes in a wonderful range of forms, all the same species: crisp hearting types like iceberg and cos (romaine), soft butterheads, and loose-leaf and oak-leaf varieties for cut-and-come-again picking. Leaves run from pale green to deep red and bronze, smooth to frilly. In summer heat or long days lettuce bolts, turning bitter as it runs to flower. Quick loose-leaf types are some of our most popular fast-growing vegetables, and lettuce pairs naturally with spinach and chicory in the salad bed.

Growing Lactuca sativa from seed

Sow little and often for a continuous supply, direct or in modules, keeping the soil cool and moist. Lettuce seed can be reluctant to germinate in heat, so sow during the cooler parts of the day in summer, and pick loose leaves regularly or harvest whole hearts as they firm. Our vegetable sowing calendar and watering guide help you keep it sweet and tender.

Ready to grow lettuce? Browse the varieties or learn the basics first.

Related categories: Lettuce · Leafy Greens · Spinach · Fast-Growing Veg · All Vegetables

At SeedsChoice, every order ships from Meppel, NL with fast, tracked EU delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Lactuca sativa?
It is the botanical name for lettuce, a fast-growing salad annual.

Where does lettuce originate?
From ancient Egypt, where it was grown over 4,000 years ago, at first for its seed oil.

What does the name mean?
Lactuca comes from the Latin for “milk,” after the milky sap, and sativa means “cultivated.”

Why does lettuce bolt?
Summer heat and long days make it run to seed and turn bitter — sow in cooler conditions and keep it moist.

How do I get a steady supply?
Sow a little and often, every couple of weeks, for continuous picking.