Skip Navigation
Menu

Wild Lettuce

Lactuca spp.

Wild lettuce is sometimes called compass plant because the leaves appear to line up north and south. It has recently become a problem in the container nursery because of its wind blown seed. It has milky sap. One species has spines and is called prickly lettuce. Some species attain heights of 8-10 feet.

Photo of Wild Lettuce

Photo by Dr. John Meade, weed scientist emeritus
Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension