We’re still a little behind on rain this
season. But the annual wildflowers are
growing well and we look forward to a good show in a few months. Several edible annuals grow in Mother Nature’s
Backyard. The Miner’s Lettuce should be
ready for eating in a few weeks.
Miner’s Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata – pronounced klay-TOH-nee-uh per-foh-lee-AY-tuh) is sometimes still
called by former names Limnia perfoliata
and Montia perfoliata. The generic name Claytonia honors John Clayton (1686-1773), said to be the greatest American
botanist of his day. The Claytonias present some taxanomic challenges, since there is much
variability within species and the several species can hybridize (interbreed between
species).
Miner’s Lettuce is an annual
wildflower in the Portulacaceae (Purslane
Family). It is native to Western North
America from Canada to Guatemala. Our
local subspecies, ssp. mexicana and perfoliata, are common in moist or
seasonally moist areas, often on shady or disturbed sites of less than 2000 m. (6500 ft) elevation. You
can still see it growing wild in the Santa Monica Mountains, on the Palos
Verdes peninsula and on the Southern Channel islands (Santa Catalina; San
Clemente).
Miner’s Lettuce is grown more for its foliage than its
flowers. As its name suggests, Miner’s
Lettuce is edible. In Europe, this plant
is sold under the name ‘winter purslane’ as a winter/spring salad green. The
leaves are bright green and succulent. The variability in leaf shape often
surprises the first-time grower. The new leaves are almost linear (see final photo). Later leaves are either
rhomboidal or wedge-shaped. Only the
final leaves are the rounded, stem-clasping leaves that most people think of as
‘Miner’s Lettuce leaves’.
Miner’s Lettuce is best eaten before the plant begins flowering
- the leaves become bitter tasting once flowering commences. Pick individual leaves, wash, and use as you
would lettuce in salads, sandwiches, tacos, etc. They add a pretty color and texture to these
dishes. You can also use Miner’s Lettuce
leaves as cooked greens. They have a
rather mild flavor, so you might want to pair them with more flavorful
ingredients like mushrooms, chives, garlic, chili peppers or bacon. They are best steamed or sautéed. A few
chopped leaves with help thicken a soup or stew.
 |
| Flowers have not fully opened in this picture |
The flowers of Miner’s Lettuce are small and white or pale pink. They form on flowering stalks that extend
beyond the mature leaves (see picture above).
The flowers are sweet and
old-fashioned – but so small that all but the very observant will miss
them. Plants are self fertile and
usually pollinated by fly pollinators.
The plants flower anytime from March to May, depending on the weather, soil
moisture and light.
Miner’s Lettuce is an easy annual edible to grow. It’s a great
plant for children to grow from seed. The plants produce many small shiny black
seeds. In fact, Miner’s Lettuce will
happy re-seed around the garden. Plant
seeds as the fall/winter rains commence, either in the ground or in
containers. Just barely cover the
seed. You can use a thin (< 1 inch)
gravel mulch if desired.
Seedlings will emerge once the ground is sufficiently moist. The
plants mature quickly, so keep an eye out if you want to eat them. Be sure to keep the soil moist during
winter/spring dry spells; once the plants have flowered, cut back on the water
to let the seeds develop.
Grow Miner’s Lettuce in just about any local soil. They tolerate full sun to almost full shade –
they are great under trees as a spring groundcover. Mix with other native annuals and grasses
for a mixed meadow or prairie. Use as a
winter crop in the vegetable garden. Or
just let it re-seed in out-of-the-way places throughout the yard - it’s a great
filler plant. Ground feeding birds like
doves will gobble up the seeds, leaving just enough for next year’s crop.
For a Gardener’s Information Sheet on this plant see: http://www.nbs.csudh.edu/biology/projectsound/native_plants/gallery_c.shtml
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