Lettuce Lactuca sativa
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is an annual vegetable in the Asteraceae family. It grows 15–30 cm (6–12 in) tall and 20–35 cm (8–14 in) wide, wants part sun to part shade and high water, and is hardy to about -2 °C (28 °F). Space plants about 25 cm (10 in) apart.
Plan Lettuce in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Lettuce at a glance
| Type | Annual vegetable |
|---|---|
| Family | Asteraceae |
| Mature height | 15–30 cm (6–12 in) |
| Mature spread | 20–35 cm (8–14 in) |
| Spacing | 25 cm (10 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 4 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Cold hardiness | About -2 °C (28 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 24 °C (75 °F) |
| Days to maturity | About 55 days from planting |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | None |
| Edible | Yes: leaves |
| Common in gardens of | 🇺🇸 United States, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇨🇳 China, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇫🇷 France, 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇵🇪 Peru, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇨🇱 Chile, 🇨🇦 Canada, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
Is Lettuce toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Lettuce is non-toxic to people and pets.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Lettuce
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and high water.
Keep apart or take care
- avoid With Cider gum (eucalyptus): Eucalyptus leaf litter and volatile oils inhibit seed germination and seedling growth of other plants in laboratory and field studies; effects in gardens are likely local and under the canopy. Evidence C
See Lettuce in a botanical garden
It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden (16 plants)
Questions about Lettuce
- How far apart should I plant Lettuce?
- About 25 cm (10 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 20–35 cm (8–14 in).
- Does Lettuce need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 4 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Lettuce need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Lettuce?
- It tolerates about -2 °C (28 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9. As an annual it is usually planted out after the last frost.
- Is Lettuce poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Lettuce is non-toxic to people and pets.
- What grows well with Lettuce?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Lettuce. Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
- Bolts in hot weather.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Sunflower Helianthus annuus
- French marigold Tagetes patula
- Zinnia Zinnia elegans
- Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus
- Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea
- Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- French tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
- German chamomile Matricaria chamomilla