Miner’s Lettuce

Scientific Name: Claytonia perfoliata

INTRODUCTION

Native to California, miner’s lettuce is a leafy green plant with tiny white or light pink flowers. Developing from a basal rosette, this winter vegetable sports perfoliate leaves— leaves that completely encircle the stem— when mature, hence the species name perfoliata.

USES

Eaten raw in salads or boiled, miner’s lettuce is a delicious, fresh, and mild vegetable packed with Vitamin C. In fact, miners during the gold rush ate this leafy green to prevent scurvy. Additionally, miner’s lettuce is self-pollinating, so it spreads rapidly and functions as a great ground cover.