Lactuca sativa

Lactuca sativa (lettuce) — the world's most popular salad leaf, grown since ancient Egypt, from crisp cos to soft butterhead and loose-leaf. The botanical home of our lettuce range.

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    Leaf lettuce tape for neat garden rows leaf lettuce seed tape is a practical way to grow annual leaf lettuce with an even distribution of seeds along a pre-spaced strip. This format helps create tidy...

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    Cos lettuce Moonred for colorful compact heads cos lettuce seeds Moonred are a striking choice for gardeners looking for a compact, upright romaine type with deep red foliage. This mini romaine lettuce variety forms neat,...

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    Organic curly lettuce for colorful salad bowls curly lettuce lollo rossa seeds are an organic annual vegetable choice for gardeners who want a decorative, frilly-leaved lettuce with rich red tones. This loose leaf type forms...

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    Butterhead lettuce for spring and summer cropping lettuce hilde ii seeds are a reliable choice for gardeners looking for a classic head lettuce variety that forms firm, tender heads. This annual leaf vegetable is well...

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    Colorful baby leaf mix for fresh salads lettuce mixture seeds offer a popular selection of annual salad leaves with varied colors, textures, and shapes, ideal for harvesting at a young stage. This versatile salad leaf...

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    Classic head lettuce with tender green leaves lettuce seeds ‘Zwart Duits’ produce a traditional head lettuce variety valued for its crisp, juicy green leaves that wrap around a pale, soft heart. Often described as a...

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    Organic sprouting blend for fresh salad toppings salad mix seeds are a versatile, organic sprouting salad seed blend designed for quick, fresh kitchen use. This mixed sprouting seeds selection combines popular varieties such as mung...

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    Red oakleaf lettuce for colourful leaf harvests red salad bowl leaf lettuce seeds are an annual salad leaf vegetable valued for their decorative, oakleaf-style foliage and gently curled, tender leaves. This red oak leaf lettuce...

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    Babyleaf lettuce mixture for colourful salads babyleaf lettuce seeds are ideal for gardeners who want a varied, tender leaf harvest from an annual mix. This baby leaf lettuce mix seeds selection brings together multiple loose...

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    Organic butterhead lettuce for firm tender heads lettuce hilde ii seeds are an organic, annual leaf-vegetable choice for gardeners who want a reliable head lettuce variety with a neat, compact habit. This butterhead type forms...

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    Compact heads for crisp garden salads little gem lettuce seeds are a popular choice for gardeners who want neat, narrow heads with a fresh green look. This compact lettuce head variety forms small, tidy hearts...

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    Classic butterhead lettuce with red-tinged leaves lettuce merveille des quatre saisons seeds are a popular choice for gardeners who want a reliable, attractive butterhead type for the vegetable patch. This red butter lettuce variety forms...

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    Neckarreuzen Summer Diamond lettuce for crisp heads lettuce seeds ‘Neckarreuzen Summer Diamond’ are a reliable choice for gardeners looking for a summer lettuce variety that forms firm, tender heads. This annual butterhead type is valued...

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    Summer Diamond lettuce for crisp garden heads lettuce seeds for Neckarreuzen Summer Diamond are a reliable choice for gardeners who want a classic head-forming type suited to both spring and summer cultivation. This butterhead lettuce...

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    Red oakleaf leaves for colorful salads leaf lettuce red salad bowl seeds are a popular choice for gardeners who want a reliable loose leaf lettuce with attractive, softly curled foliage. This salad bowl lettuce variety...

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    Summer heading lettuce for warm season gardens lettuce kagraner 2 seeds is an annual leaf vegetable grown for its firm, tender head and reliable performance in the warmer part of the season. This summer heading...

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    Decorative Italian leaf lettuce for gardens lollo rossa lettuce seeds produce a distinctive red frilly lettuce variety with finely toothed, deeply curled leaves and an open, airy rosette. This annual salad leaf vegetable is valued...

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    Butterhead lettuce for tender summer garden heads lettuce appia seeds are an annual leaf vegetable option for gardeners who want a fast, reliable butterhead type for seasonal beds and containers. This summer lettuce variety is...

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    Curly loose leaf lettuce for garden beds lollo bionda lettuce seeds produce a decorative, loose leaf lettuce variety with an open rosette and strongly cut, curly leaves. The foliage is light green to yellow-green with...

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    May Queen lettuce for crisp garden heads lettuce may queen seeds are a classic annual choice for gardeners who enjoy a reliable head lettuce variety with tender texture and an attractive, fresh green colour. Often...

Lactuca sativa — lettuce

Lactuca sativa is the botanical name for lettuce, the most popular salad leaf in the world and a fast, easy annual in the daisy family (Asteraceae). It is the species behind our whole lettuce range within the leafy greens collection.

History & origin

Lettuce was first cultivated in ancient Egypt, grown more than 4,000 years ago — at first for the oil pressed from its seeds, and later for its leaves. The Egyptians considered it a sacred plant linked to the fertility god Min, and it appears in their tomb paintings. The Greeks and Romans took up lettuce enthusiastically as a salad and a supposed sleep aid, and from there it spread across Europe and, eventually, the world.

Its name points to the milky sap that seeps from a cut stem: Lactuca comes from the Latin lac, “milk,” while sativa means “cultivated.”

Botanical characteristics

Lettuce comes in a wonderful range of forms, all the same species: crisp hearting types like iceberg and cos (romaine), soft butterheads, and loose-leaf and oak-leaf varieties for cut-and-come-again picking. Leaves run from pale green to deep red and bronze, smooth to frilly. In summer heat or long days lettuce bolts, turning bitter as it runs to flower. Quick loose-leaf types are some of our most popular fast-growing vegetables, and lettuce pairs naturally with spinach and chicory in the salad bed.

Growing Lactuca sativa from seed

Sow little and often for a continuous supply, direct or in modules, keeping the soil cool and moist. Lettuce seed can be reluctant to germinate in heat, so sow during the cooler parts of the day in summer, and pick loose leaves regularly or harvest whole hearts as they firm. Our vegetable sowing calendar and watering guide help you keep it sweet and tender.

Ready to grow lettuce? Browse the varieties or learn the basics first.

Related categories: Lettuce · Leafy Greens · Spinach · Fast-Growing Veg · All Vegetables

At SeedsChoice, every order ships from Meppel, NL with fast, tracked EU delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Lactuca sativa?
It is the botanical name for lettuce, a fast-growing salad annual.

Where does lettuce originate?
From ancient Egypt, where it was grown over 4,000 years ago, at first for its seed oil.

What does the name mean?
Lactuca comes from the Latin for “milk,” after the milky sap, and sativa means “cultivated.”

Why does lettuce bolt?
Summer heat and long days make it run to seed and turn bitter — sow in cooler conditions and keep it moist.

How do I get a steady supply?
Sow a little and often, every couple of weeks, for continuous picking.