Prickly Lettuce
Lactuca serriola
Last reviewed: September 2026
Toxicity unknown
Prickly Lettuce (Lactuca serriola) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part sun
Water
low
Size
24"–72" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Pollinators
bees, flies, beetles
Native alternatives to Prickly Lettuce
Prickly Lettuce is not native to the United States. These natives fill a similar role in a planting, matched on bloom season, bloom color and mature size.
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 460 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaPicture natives in your own yard
Wondering what could grow where Prickly Lettuce is now? Upload a photo of the spot and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it replanted with natives for your region.
Milk thistle is a tall annual wildflower that produces small yellow dandelion-like flowers from summer through fall. This native plant can reach up to 6 feet tall and has deeply lobed leaves with prickly edges. It readily self-seeds and spreads naturally in disturbed soils.
In an HOA neighborhood
Prickly Lettuce takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Looks distinctly weedy and unkempt
- Can grow very tall and appear uncontrolled
- Prickly leaves may be seen as undesirable
- Self-seeds aggressively
Wildlife value
The flowers attract various pollinators including bees, flies, and beetles throughout the long blooming season. Seeds provide food for birds, particularly goldfinches and other seed-eating species.
Common questions
- How much sun does Prickly Lettuce need?
- Prickly Lettuce grows best in part sun conditions.
- When does Prickly Lettuce bloom?
- Prickly Lettuce blooms in June, July, August, and September.
- What pollinators does Prickly Lettuce attract?
- Prickly Lettuce draws bees, flies, and beetles.
- Is Prickly Lettuce HOA-friendly?
- Prickly Lettuce takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Prickly Lettuce? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.