Plants in genus lactuca
Lactuca sativa 'Buttercrunch'
Lactuca sativa 'Buttercrunch' is a vigorous grower with a creamy yellow interior and buttery flavor. Its small heads are perfect for single-serve salads and are attractive in flower-garden borders. This variety is an All-America Selections Winner, ideal for container gardening.
Lactuca sativa
Lactuca sativa is a deep-red, mini-romaine lettuce known for its compact size and ease of growth. It features uniform leaves and is resistant to several diseases, making it a reliable choice for gardeners. This lettuce is part of a mix that includes butterhead, leaf, and romaine varieties, offering a rich, buttery flavor and a tender green heart. It is heat tolerant, slow to bolt, and can be harvested young for baby greens. The plant grows to about 12 inches tall and is ideal for container gardening or as a decorative border in flower beds. Its bronze-red leaves and cold tolerance make it suitable for fall planting. This French heirloom, also known as Merveille de Quatre Saisons, has a history dating back to the 1800s and is appreciated for its succulent sweetness and crisp texture.
Lactuca sativa 'Red Sails'
Lactuca sativa 'Red Sails' is a heat-tolerant lettuce variety that matures quickly, ready for harvest in just 2-3 weeks. It grows to a full head in a little over 6 weeks and is noted for its high vitamin A and C content compared to store-bought lettuce. This makes it a nutritious and fast-growing option for home gardeners.
Lactuca sativa 'Australe'
Lactuca sativa 'Australe' is a type of lettuce with bright green leaves tipped with bronze, offering a buttery texture. It can be harvested as baby greens in just 21 days, or allowed to mature into a full head in 55 days. This variety is known for its upright growth habit.
Lactuca sativa 'Black Seeded Simpson'
Lactuca sativa 'Black Seeded Simpson' is a beloved garden lettuce variety that has been popular since 1850. It is known for its full-sized, frilly leaves and rapid growth, allowing for harvest in just 3-4 weeks. This lettuce is particularly resilient, withstanding hot, dry conditions and light frosts, making it a reliable choice for gardeners in various climates.
Lactuca sativa ssp. longifolia
Developed by the USDA and Clemson University around 1950, this nutritional lettuce grows 10 to 12 inches tall and can be harvested as baby greens in as little as 21 days. It resists tipburn and is tolerant of mosaic virus.
Lactuca sativa 'Red Romaine'
Lactuca sativa 'Red Romaine' is a lettuce variety with leaves that turn reddish bronze at maturity. It is resistant to mosaic virus and can grow up to 24 inches tall.