Wild Lettuce - Lactuca virosa, 10 seeds
Lactuca virosa, also called bitter lettuce or opium lettuce, is a biennial plant from the same family as common garden lettuce. In the wild it can grow up to around 2 metres tall, with an upright stem and narrow, toothed leaves. The species name "virosa" is Latin for poisonous and refers to the milky sap released when the stem is damaged.
That sap is historically known as lactucarium, or "lettuce opium": it was included in European and American herbal pharmacopoeias during the 18th and 19th centuries, and legend has it that Emperor Augustus credited the plant with his recovery from illness. Of all lettuce species, Lactuca virosa contains the highest concentration of this sap; common garden lettuce contains it too, but in far smaller amounts.
Sowing and growing
Sow the seeds shallowly, just a few millimetres deep, in well-draining potting soil or directly in a border. Choose a spot in full sun to partial shade; the plant is otherwise undemanding about soil. Germination can take a few weeks and is more even at a temperature around 18-20°C. Once the seedlings are sturdy enough, the plant needs relatively little care.
Care
Keep the soil lightly moist without letting water sit, since consistently wet soil encourages root rot. The plant copes well with the Dutch summer in a sunny, sheltered spot. Traditionally, the sap is harvested by cutting the flower stem and letting the sap dry into lactucarium, or you can use the fresh leaf and stem for your own infusion.
Check out the other growing seeds in the Dutch-Smart range, such as Salvia Apiana and Blue Lotus, for anyone who wants to expand their herb garden further.
