Valerianella locusta

RHS Plant Profile
lamb's lettuce

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lamb's lettuce RHS

Other common names

cornsalad, fetticus, mache, milk grass, white pot-herb, Mary Magdalene's herb

Synonyms

Valerianella olitoria

Annual Biennial
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An annual producing a rosette of soft, spoon-shaped, edible leaves up to 15cm long. Clusters of tiny, blue-white flowers are produced on upright stems in spring

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1 year
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Caprifoliaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
Yes
Foliage
Semi evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Valerianella are rosette-forming annuals, with tiny, bluish or pinkish flowers clustered in flat heads on multi-branched, upright stems
Name Status
Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in any well-drained soil in a sunny or semi-shaded position. Normally sown in late summer or autumn for winter salads, protecting with cloches in very harsh weather

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Patio and container plants
  • Cottage and informal garden

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be eaten by slugs and snails

Diseases

Normally disease free