Miner's Lettuce
Claytonia perfoliata

Family: Portulacaceae

What it is like

Claytonia perfoliata is a ANNUAL growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in). It is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from May to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Flies. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Height (m): 0.2

Where it is found

Disturbed and waste ground, moist banks and slopes, often in partial shade, especially on light soils. Also found on rather dry sandy soils.

Western N. America - British Columbia to California and Mexico. Naturalized in Britain.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Leaves - raw or cooked. A fairly bland flavour with a mucilaginous texture, it is quite nice in a salad. The young leaves are best, older leaves can turn bitter especially in the summer and if the plant is growing in a hot dry position. Although individual leaves are fairly small, they are produced in abundance and are easily picked. Stalks and flowers - raw. A nice addition to the salad bowl. Bulb - raw. Although very small and labour-intensive to harvest, the boiled and peeled root has the flavour of chestnuts. Another report says that the plant has a fibrous root system so this report seems to be erroneous.

Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Medicine

Rating: 1

The leaves are gently laxative. Apart from its value as a nourishing vegetable that is rich in vitamin C, it can also be taken as an invigorating spring tonic and an effective diuretic. A poultice of the mashed plants has been applied to rheumatic joints.

Antirheumatic: Treats rheumatism.

Laxative: Stimulates bowel movements in a fairly gentle manner.

Vitamin C: Plants good for their vitamin C content

Other

Rating: 2

Although only an annual, this species makes an excellent ground cover in a cool acid soil under trees. In such a position it usually self-sows freely and grows all year round.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

Ground cover: Ground Cover

How it is grown

Prefers a moist peaty soil. It is often found growing wild on sandy soils. An easily grown plant, it can succeed on very poor and dry soils. Plants grow well the dappled shade of trees, producing a better quality crop in such a situation. Although only an annual, it usually self-sows when well sited. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -15°c. Miner's lettuce is occasionally cultivated as a salad plant. It's main value is as a reliable producer of leaves in the winter, though it can provide leaves all year round. It can be grown as a cut and come again crop. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. A self-seeding annual. A clumping mat former. Forming a dense prostrate carpet spreading indefinitely. The root pattern is fibrous dividing into a large number of fine roots.

Propagating it: Seed - sow spring or autumn in situ. The seed usually germinates rapidly.

Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade; Ground Cover;

Habit: Annual

Hardiness: 6-10

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Full shade, semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

May be weedy or invasive.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Claytonia perfoliata. Montia perfoliata (Donn ex Willd.)