Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District
Blue Lettuce
(Woodland Lettuce)
Lactuca floridana
[C-value
10]
Aster family (Asteraceae)
Blooms August -
mid-September
The native Blue Lettuce is common in our area. It prefers partial sun in slightly moist disturbed areas. Habitats include disturbed sites, woodland edges, streambanks and roadsides. This annual or biennial has smooth stems 2-6' tall with hairy dandelion-like leaves. Its basal leaves are up to 5½" long and 3½" across and deeply lobed. The inflorescence at the top of the plant can have over 100 flowers at once but only a few are open at a time. The flowers are about 3/4" across, with 10-16 light blue to white rays that are followed by silky white seed puffs.
Blue Lettuce blooming at Farnsworth House on August 13, 2018
Blue Lettuce foliage at Farnsworth House on August 13, 2018
Blue Lettuce lower leaf at Farnsworth House on August 13, 2018
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