Prickly Lettuce

Lactuca serriola

Prickly Lettuce is a winter annual broadleaf weed that is also known by its scientific name, Lactuca serriola.

Identify

Alternate

Upright

Entire

Lobed

Lanceolate

Leaves of Prickly Lettuce are arranged alternately and can grow from 2 to 14 inches long. These leaves can be lobed or unlobed and are egg-shaped. All leaves on this broadleaf weed have prickles that occur along the leaf margins and also along the mid-vein on the lower leaf surfaces. The leaves emit a milky sap when cut, and the root structure is a taproot.

Life Cycle

This broadleaf weed is found throughout the United States.

Control

Cultural controls include digging up or pulling and removing all Prickly Lettuce plant parts from the affected area when the ground is moist. TruGreen® uses a selective systemic broadleaf weed killer program to fight Lactuca serriola in your lawn, which ensures the product moves throughout the weed, controlling it completely, root and all.