My yard is full of Miner’s Lettuce right now, another bonus from the wet spring. Some people might just mow it down not realizing it is a delectable and edible leaf, mild tasting like spinach…
Miner’s lettuce, sometimes known as Claytonia perfoliata or winter purslane, is one of the wild vegetables to have made the cut into our dinner tables, thanks to its high vitamin content.
Perfect for the beginning forager, miner's lettuce is a delicious, juicy and sweet wild green. Learn how and when to find this shade-loving green! (This post was contributed by Melissa Keyser.) The very first wild
This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Please see FCC disclosure for full information. Thank you for supporting this site! Imagine it's the days of the California Gold Rush. Despite the lofty name given the period, times are tough. Gold is hard to find, and you went into debt to buy the things you needed to try to strike it rich. Food isn't abundant in the winter. In fact, you may be totally out of winter provisions. You might also be feeling tired and sickly. Then the first spring rains come, and you learn from a native friend that there's a cure for your winter ailments: A common, abundant weed that will make you feel better and fill your stomach. Today that weed is commonly called Miner's Lettuce, because so many gold miners cherished it as a way to prevent scurvy. It's got lots of vitamin C, and is one of late winter and early spring's first wild offerings. Most often, it's eaten raw, as in a salad, but it can be cooked like spinach, too, and tastes similar to that green. Common miner's lettuce's lily pad shaped leaf is easy to spot. Courtesy of Wikimedia and Franco Folini. Identifying Common Miner's Lettuce There are two main types of Miner's Lettuce in the United States. The most common, if foraging guidebooks are to be believed, is called simply "Miner's Lettuce." According to most sources, it's not native to this continent, but is believed to have been introduced to North America from Europe in 1794. It's sometimes called Indian lettuce, Cuban lettuce, winter purslane, miner's green, spring beauty, or it's Latin name, Claytonia perfoliata. It grows primarily in western North America, especially in coastal or mountainous regions, from Alaska and British Columbia down through Arizona and Central America. It can also be found in the interior western states. It tends to grow in great patches and has distinctively round, lily pad like leaves. This plant loves moist areas and tends to grow abundantly from late winter to mid-spring, notably in shady, wooded areas. It particularly loves disturbed areas of soil, especially if the area has recently seen fire. Before blooming. Courtesy of Wikimedia and Rob Hille. Miner's lettuce grows in a rosette, up to about 15 inches high. Usually the leaves are green, but the first young leaves may be purple or even brown-green. The mature leaves have very long stems - up to about 8 inches long. The five petaled flowers are pink or white and 3/4 - 1 1/2 inches long, appearing from about February through June. Courtesy of Wikimedia and Rob Hille. Courtesy of Wikimedia and glmory. More rare purple miner's lettuce. Courtesy of Wikimedia and Jason Hollinger. Identifying Siberian Miner's Lettuce Our Siberian miner's lettuce starts purple and slowly turns green with time. The second type of miner's lettuce is commonly called "Siberian Miner's Lettuce," or sometimes Siberian spring beauty, Western spring beauty, candy flower, pink purslane, or it's Latin name, Montia sibirica. It's native to both Siberia, and according to some sources, North America. (Other sources have the plant introduced to North America in the 18th century.) It grows over much of western North America, including Alaska down to British Columbia, down to California and Montana, and then west to Utah. This plant is quite different in appearance from the other type of miner's lettuce. It's leaves and stems are lanceolate (almost heart shaped), succulent, thick, and about 2/5 - 2 inches wide. Early leaves can be purple, but more mature leaves are green. They grow in a basal rosette. The plant has 3 - 8 inch flowers with five pink, white, or pink and white striped petals. It usually flowers between February and August. It's stems grow about 4 - 14 inches high. Like common miner's lettuce, Siberian miner's lettuce often grows in patches, though I've also found single plants in our forest. You're most likely to see Siberian miner's lettuce in moist woods. Close up of a Siberian miner's lettuce leaf. Growth habit of Siberian miner's lettuce. Siberian miner's lettuce flower. A clump of Siberian miner's lettuce. How to Eat Miner's Lettuce Both types of miner's lettuce are edible raw or cooked. Usually the leaf is used, but stems, and flowers are all edible and high in vitamins A and C. This plant does contain oxalates (just like almonds, tea, rhubarb, and bananas), which can build up in the body and be toxic. So be smart: Vary your diet! (Read more about oxalates here.) According to foraging expert Hank Shaw, The Journal of the American Dietetic Association says that every 100 grams of miner's lettuce (about as much as you'd use in a salad) contains 33.3% of the daily recommendation for vitamin C, 22% the vitamin A, and 10% of the iron. Herbalists say miner's lettuce cleanses the body. It's high in chlorophyll and antioxidants, which may back up their claim. This wild green is also said to contain Oega-3 fatty acids, although I could find no scientific papers to back up this claim. To harvest, cut the stems off near the soil, or cut off the leaves only. Young leaves taste best and have the best nutrition. Once the plant flowers, the leaves may taste more tangy. Older leaves, or plants growing in the sun, can taste bitter. Usually the flowers - only fresh ones - are left on the leaves and added to salads. Harvest responsibly. Leave plenty of the plant behind, so wildlife can reap its benefits, and so the plant will continue to thrive and spread. Planting Miner's Lettuce from Seed If you don't have miner's lettuce nearby, you can now buy seeds for it! Both Territorial Seed Company and Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds carry common miner's lettuce seeds. You can even buy common miner's lettuce seeds on Amazon! Just remember that like most wild plants, if given a setting they like, miner's lettuce will spread. So consider planting it in a container, and make sure you remove flowers before they go to seed.
Miner's lettuce is mild, fresh, crunchy, and succulent. It's one of my favorite spring greens, and it's as nutritious as it is delicious.
I found miner's lettuce in a seed catalog years ago when I was first shopping for winter greenhouse greens. Our attached greenhouse stays pretty warm, but it's not heated. It goes to about 20 degrees
How to find, forage and eat miner's lettuce, claytonia prefoliata, one of the few North American wild plants exported to Europe as a salad green.
Annual rosette forming plant growing to around 30cm high. Often used as a salad green, Miner's Lettuce has a fresh crisp flavour and fleshy succulent textured leaves. Leaves, stalks and flowers can be harvested fresh and used in salads or can be boiled an
Miner’s lettuce, sometimes known as Claytonia perfoliata or winter purslane, is one of the wild vegetables to have made the cut into our dinner tables, thanks to its high vitamin content.
I found miner's lettuce in a seed catalog years ago when I was first shopping for winter greenhouse greens. Our attached greenhouse stays pretty warm, but it's not heated. It goes to about 20 degrees
How to find, forage and eat miner's lettuce, claytonia prefoliata, one of the few North American wild plants exported to Europe as a salad green.
The botanical name of Miner's Lettuce is Corchorus olitorius. These plants purify the blood, improve the heart function and reduce the cholesterol.
A succulent salad green with a refreshing wild flavor It tolerates mild frost, suitable for multiple cuttings in a year The unique heart-shaped leaves enrich the view of a garden Each package contains 1000 open-pollinated seeds that are packed & shipped from Ontario Hundredfold is a trusted Canadian trademark since 2017. Good fruits multiply/Les bons fruits se multiplient Note: Native to Pacific Northwest, it is perfect to plant in gardens and orchards for weed suppression, and for edible greens Product description Romance, wealth, and violence were a few of the themes throughout the history of the California Gold Rush. Above all, it was survival. That is why miner’s lettuce played a role in these dramatic years. Miner’s lettuce was eaten by miners during the Gold Rush, so it was named. This humble California native still plays a role in many people’s lives today, beyond the border of the Golden State.
Our seeds are all freshly harvested, with the majority being hand-picked. Furthermore, every seed undergoes testing to ensure a high germination rate. -This package includes 20 fresh seeds of Pink Purslane Siberian Spring Beauty, scientifically known as "Claytonia Sibirica" or "Claytonia Alsinoides," and commonly referred to as Siberian Spring Beauty, Candy Flower, Pink Purslane, Siberian Miner's Lettuce, and Springbeauty. -Flower Color: Pink with Striped Patterns -Optimal Seed Planting: Can be planted in either Fall or Spring -Bloom Period: Enjoy its blossoms from April to July -Harvest Time: Ideal for harvesting in the Spring or at any time -Hardiness Zone: Suitable for zones 4 to 10 -Plant Height: Grows to a height of 6 inches -Plant Spacing: Recommended spacing of 12 to 15 inches -Light Requirements: Thrives in a range of sunlight, from sun to shade -Soil and Water Preferences: Prefers moist soil conditions REMINDER: Please remember that seeds are living, perishable products. When germinating seeds, it's crucial to carefully FOLLOW the provided INSTRUCTIONS, as each variety has specific growing guidelines. Using alternative methods that may lead to failure is discouraged, and we cannot be held responsible for such outcomes. Additionally, it's important to understand that we are not responsible for how the buyer cares for the plant, as we have no control over its environment or care. We recommend conducting any necessary research before making a purchase. It's NORMAL for seeds NOT to GERMINATE SIMULTANEOUSLY, and the process may take days, weeks, or even months, as this variation is part of nature. ATTENTION: Our shop offers a variety of hybrid plants and flower seeds. While some hybrids occur naturally in the wild, our nurseries typically create them through manual pollination. 1. These hybrid seeds and plants tend to have shorter lifespans due to their delicate nature. 2. It's essential to be aware that there is a slight possibility that hybrid plants or flowers may be sterile. Even if they produce seeds, those seeds may not yield the same plant the following year. This is because the seeds contain a mix of less predictable characteristics from the grandparent plant, rather than resembling the parent plant. Although we make every effort to test the seeds, nature sometimes follows its own course. These genetically engineered specimens are well worth the occasional uncertainty, given the potential for perfection. NOTE: As mentioned on our Etsy account, we collaborate closely with two family nurseries for our production. Please be reminded that if you purchase more than 1 seed, it's possible not to receive them on the same day, as we may ship them through our two family nurseries. However, we assure you that you will receive all the seeds you purchase. Happy shopping! :) IMPORTANT NOTE: The images provided are for reference purposes only, depicting the plant you can expect from the seeds you purchase. Please note that we exclusively sell seeds. We sincerely appreciate your purchase and your support for our business. In case you come across any problems with your purchase or have any concerns, we kindly request that you contact us before leaving a review. Your satisfaction is of utmost importance to us. We wish you a successful and delightful gardening experience! Happy planting! :) E-2191
Spring arrived this past week, ushered in by a series of Northern California storms that soaked the earth and left the air smelling of fresh rain. This is my favorite time of year. Spring brings re…
Miner’s lettuce, sometimes known as Claytonia perfoliata or winter purslane, is one of the wild vegetables to have made the cut into our dinner tables, thanks to its high vitamin content.
Perfect for the beginning forager, miner's lettuce is a delicious, juicy and sweet wild green. Learn how and when to find this shade-loving green! (This post was contributed by Melissa Keyser.) The very first wild
Perfect for the beginning forager, miner's lettuce is a delicious, juicy and sweet wild green. Learn how and when to find this shade-loving green! (This post was contributed by Melissa Keyser.) The very first wild
Perfect for the beginning forager, miner's lettuce is a delicious, juicy and sweet wild green. Learn how and when to find this shade-loving green! (This post was contributed by Melissa Keyser.) The very first wild
I found miner's lettuce in a seed catalog years ago when I was first shopping for winter greenhouse greens. Our attached greenhouse stays pretty warm, but it's not heated. It goes to about 20 degrees
I found miner's lettuce in a seed catalog years ago when I was first shopping for winter greenhouse greens. Our attached greenhouse stays pretty warm, but it's not heated. It goes to about 20 degrees
Claytonia perfoliata This delightful green, also known as Winter Purslane or Spring Beauty, is native to the western mountain regions of North America. It got the name Miner's Lettuce because gold miners in the mid 1800's consumed it for Vitamin C to prevent scurvy. Long before the miners arrived, claytonia was used as food and medicine by many indigenous peoples up and down the Pacific coast. The taste is similar to spinach, and it can be used just like spinach, raw in salads or cooked. In zones 6 through 9 it is perennial, although most growers treat it as an annual and re-sow each year. Unlike most greens, the flavor is not affected by flowering, but hot weather will cause bitterness to develop. Claytonia can be direct sown in the garden any time from 4 weeks before last frost through late summer, and may grow through the winter in warm climates. It prefers shade or part shade, and damp, compost-rich soil. 0.5 gram packet contains a minimum of 150 seeds.
Miner's lettuce and mizuna are unique and flavourful greens, worthy of starring status in a salad, especially beside a simple, fresh, and unique rhubarb and poppy seed vinaigrette.
Miner's lettuce and mizuna are unique and flavourful greens, worthy of starring status in a salad, especially beside a simple, fresh, and unique rhubarb and poppy seed vinaigrette.
Come learn how to identify, harvest, grow, forage for, and eat Miner's lettuce (aka Claytonia perfoliata) - a delicious wild edible green!
Miner's lettuce is a wild-growing edible weed that is highly nutritious. It's loaded with vitamin C and minerals and has medicinal properties.
Miner's lettuce, Claytonia perfoliata is light green, and has round, disk-like leaves which surrounds its smooth and tender stem.
Come learn how to identify, harvest, grow, forage for, and eat Miner's lettuce (aka Claytonia perfoliata) - a delicious wild edible green!
Miner's lettuce is a wild-growing edible weed that is highly nutritious. It's loaded with vitamin C and minerals and has medicinal properties.
Winter in Vancouver this year has been mild and forgiving, so much so that I have arugula and red mustard flowering in my garden. Largely due to the drier than average fall and warm temperatures th…
Montia perfoliata syn. Claytonia perforiata Known also as Winter Purslane due to the succulence of its leaves and stems, this native California weed is actually sweet tasting, not tart like true purslane. Leaves grow individually on long stems, but should be cut to no more than 5cm (2") in length. Harvest with scissors, just above the crown of the plants and it will grow back up to three times. Don't allow it to flower unless you're saving Miners Lettuce Claytonia Seeds. Claytonia is quite cold hardy. Given some protection, it can be grown all winter. Matures in 55 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)
How to find, forage and eat miner's lettuce, claytonia prefoliata, one of the few North American wild plants exported to Europe as a salad green.
Claytonia perfoliata 42 days. This annual green is high in vitamin C and native to many moist areas of the country. The leaves are rather heart-shaped and provide a substantial addition to salads and sandwiches. Probably the most cold tolerant of the greens, Miner's Lettuce will grow year-round in the cloche, greenhous %%Excerpt%%
Miner's lettuce is a wild-growing edible weed that is highly nutritious. It's loaded with vitamin C and minerals and has medicinal properties.
Perfect for the beginning forager, miner's lettuce is a delicious, juicy and sweet wild green. Learn how and when to find this shade-loving green! (This post was contributed by Melissa Keyser.) The very first wild
Perfect for the beginning forager, miner's lettuce is a delicious, juicy and sweet wild green. Learn how and when to find this shade-loving green! (This post was contributed by Melissa Keyser.) The very first wild
I found miner's lettuce in a seed catalog years ago when I was first shopping for winter greenhouse greens. Our attached greenhouse stays pretty warm, but it's not heated. It goes to about 20 degrees
Perfect for the beginning forager, miner's lettuce is a delicious, juicy and sweet wild green. Learn how and when to find this shade-loving green! (This post was contributed by Melissa Keyser.) The very first wild
