Prickly Lettuce

Lactuca serriola
Family: Asteraceae

Growth Habit: An erect plant which can grow up to 1.5m in height but averages 80cm. It has a stiff, spiny stem and sticky white sap.

Type of Plant: Prickly lettuce can be an annual herb or a biennial.

Flowers: It has a yellow, daisy-like flower.

Fruit/Seed: Seeds are produced in summer.

Dispersal: Seed is easily dispersed by wind as they have the typical daisy-family parachute of hairs, which are also found on plants such as dandelions.

Distribution: This weed may be found in gardens, roadsides, wastelands, cultivated areas and degraded pastures.

Status: Undeclared in Tasmania.

Weed Impact:

  • Minimal economic impact.

For further information contact the Department of Primary Industry, Water and Environment, Tasmania.

Control Methods:

  • Grubbing (all year). Ensure entire plant is removed especially the taproot.
  • Herbicide (summer, spring and autumn). Herbicides registered in Tasmania include dicamba, MCPA, glyphosate, 2,4-DB and 2,4-D.

N.B. Always check the herbicide label before use.