{"product_id":"prickly-wild-lettuce","title":"Prickly Wild Lettuce (Lactuca serriola) Seeds – Wild Opium Lettuce, Compass Plant, Bitter Edible Wild Green, Foraging Heirloom","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.375rem] font-bold\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMinimum:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003e30+ Seeds\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"ltr\" class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.375rem] font-bold\"\u003ePrickly Wild Lettuce Seeds (Lactuca serriola) — The Compass Plant That Points North \u0026amp; Soothes Pain\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003ePrickly Wild Lettuce is the forgotten forager's treasure: a self-seeding biennial bearing multiple names hinting at ancient power... wild opium, compass plant, milk thistle. Named compass plant because its spiny-edged basal leaves align themselves north-south, seeking the sun's arc. Once you understand what wild lettuce contains... lactucarium, a milky latex flowing from cut stems and hardening into sedative resin gentler than opium... every leaf makes sense. This plant has been part of human medicine since Hippocrates prescribed it for pain, insomnia, and anxiety. Ancient Egyptians used it for relief. Medieval herbalists harvested it for calming properties. It remains remarkably powerful: the latex is most concentrated when flowering, though young leaves contain enough lactucarium to produce genuine effect. The plant is straightforward: a robust biennial reaching 5-6 feet, producing pale yellow flowers July-September, self-fertile and unfussy about conditions. Grows almost anywhere with sun and decent drainage. Young leaves are edible when tender and mild, becoming bitter as it matures. Perfect for wild salads or cooking as potherb.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho Grows Prickly Wild Lettuce Seeds?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003eHerbalists and foragers valuing traditional plant medicine. Gardeners seeking medicinal herbs with genuine effect. Anyone exploring the boundary between food and medicine. Wildcraft enthusiasts preserving knowledge. Gardeners wanting something genuinely tough.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat This Wild Heirloom Medicinal Herb Actually Is\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eLactuca serriola\u003c\/em\u003e, Prickly Wild Lettuce or Wild Opium. Biennial native to Europe and Asia, naturalized throughout North America. Erect, taprooted growth 5-6 feet tall. Blue-green foliage with prickles along leaf margins and underside of midvein. Basal rosette of lobed, toothed leaves. Pale yellow flowers July-September. Self-fertile. Contains lactucarium... milky latex with lactucin, lactulone, and trace alkaloids producing mild sedative, analgesic effects. Young leaves edible but bitter. Grows readily in full sun, well-drained soil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn the Kitchen, Garden \u0026amp; Herbal Medicine\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\" class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3 print:block print:space-y-1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eYoung Salads:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tender early leaves eaten raw with milder greens.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCooked Potherb:\u003c\/strong\u003e Young shoots cooked briefly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHerbal Tea:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dried leaves steeped for sedative effect.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMedicinal Latex:\u003c\/strong\u003e Stems milked for lactucarium resin when flowering.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSleep Support:\u003c\/strong\u003e Traditionally used for insomnia.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePain Relief:\u003c\/strong\u003e Historical use for rheumatic and general pain.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGarden Medicine:\u003c\/strong\u003e Self-seeds; readily establishes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowing Prickly Wild Lettuce Seeds\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\" class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3 print:block print:space-y-1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeason:\u003c\/strong\u003e Biennial, grows as annual when spring-sown.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eZones:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hardy to Zone 4.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSunlight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun essential.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Well-drained, mildly acid to alkaline.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlanting:\u003c\/strong\u003e Direct sow or start indoors after frost.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing:\u003c\/strong\u003e 12-18 inches between plants.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGermination:\u003c\/strong\u003e 60-70 days to flowering.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowering:\u003c\/strong\u003e July-September.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest Leaves:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pinch when young and tender.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest Latex:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cut flowering stalks, collect sap daily.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaintenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Minimal. Self-seeds prolifically.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBefore You Close This Page\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003ePrickly Wild Lettuce, wild opium, compass plant. Biennial 5-6 feet tall. Spiny blue-green leaves orienting north-south. Yellow flowers July-September. Young leaves edible but bitter. Contains lactucarium... traditional sedative and pain remedy. Milky latex most concentrated at flowering. Hardy Zone 4, full sun, well-drained soil. Self-seeds readily. The ancient forager's remedy that still works.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"terramatergardens","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54136842551614,"sku":"11548","price":3.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/8836\/7166\/files\/candles-5599.png?v=1787033141","url":"https:\/\/www.terramatergardens.com\/products\/prickly-wild-lettuce","provider":"Terra Mater Gardens","version":"1.0","type":"link"}