Perennial Sweet Lettuce Seeds
Perennial Sweet Lettuce Seeds - Reichardia picroides - French Scorzonera
French Scorzonera
- Hardy to Zone 7
Full Sun to Partial Shade
- Germination Tested November 22, 2024: 85%
- Approximately 50 seeds per packet
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Sweet Lettuce, also called French Scorzonera or Common Brighteyes, is a perennial plant with edible leaves and roots. The leaves are sweet and mild year-round and not fibrous, and remain tasty even in the heat of summer when the plant is in flower. It's a great leafy green to have in summer while other greens like lettuce tend to bolt and become bitter.
It blooms for a long time, supporting pollinators, and the flowers can be eaten as well. You may wish to cut back the flowers to increase leaf production.
Interestingly, slugs don't seem to bother the plant much even though the leaves are mild, so if you struggle to grow lettuce because of slugs, this could be a great plant to try! It tolerates rocky and poor soils, and drought, too.
The plant will survive -15 degrees Celsius for sure, possibly lower. It does not seem to overwinter in pots. After growing these plants for 5 years, all of my plants died in the harsh winter of 2023/4, I assume because the cold set in very quickly, or it did in fact go below -15. Fortunately lots of seeds did survive, and possibly some small volunteer seedlings as well, so this wonderful species lives on in my garden.
Grow French scorzonera in full sun or part shade. Shade may increase leaf size. The plant grows about two feet tall when flowering. May self-sow.
I recently tried nibbling on a root raw, and it was very mild. However, the roots are pretty long and spindly so it may take a long time to harvest enough for a meal. I think the best time to harvest the roots would be in the late fall or early spring.
Growing Instructions
Growing Instructions
Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
We ship seeds via Canada Post within Canada for $6 to $8 depending on weight, United States for $20, and Internationally for $20*. Live plants, bulbs, and bulbils can only be shipped within Canada.
Shipping in Canada
We ship seeds in Canada via regular letter mail, which is an untracked service, and usually takes 1-3 weeks to arrive once we fulfill your order, but occasionally orders take longer, especially to Ontario and East.
Customers can now opt for tracked, express shipping options at checkout if you require faster delivery.
Larger bulbs and plants are sent via tracked flat rate box.
Shipping to the US
We now require all US shoppers to obtain a Small Lot Seed Permit before we can mail your seeds. It's free to apply and you will likely be granted the permit instantly. We appreciate if you can email us your permit as soon as you can after your purchase.
How to apply for your Small Seed Lot Import Permit:
- Go to https://efile.aphis.usda.gov/s/
- Select PPQ-587 in the dropdown menu and click "Get Started".
- Login and follow the instructions to obtain a permit. It's best to list "Eligible Taxa" instead of listing all the species you'd like to import so you don't need to worry about missing any species you ordered.
- Once you receive your permit, promptly email us 2 documents: a copy of your permit and a copy of the yellow/green shipping labels. Tell us if which USDA station you want us to send the seeds to. If not mentioned we will choose one. Our email is grow@cicadaseeds.ca
- We are not able to send any pepper or tomato seeds, or any live plant materials to the US due to restrictions.
After receiving your documentation, we will mail your seeds to the inspection facility. We will ship via tracked parcel, and you will receive the tracking number when your order has shipped. Orders will be mailed first to a plant inspection facility in the US, then they forward the package on to your address after inspection. This can take several weeks, depending on how long the inspection takes. Unfortunately we are not able to replace packages that are confiscated or destroyed by customs, or for any duties or tariffs placed on your order.
Shipping Internationally
International customers can select tracked or untracked shipping at checkout. The package will list the contents as "Garden Seeds". It is your responsibility to ensure you have the required import permit. We are not able to send any live plant materials internationally. Cicada Seeds will not be responsible for any orders held or confiscated by customs, or for any additional duties or tariffs placed on your order.
International shipping countries include: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom.
This list may change without notice. Sometimes Canada Post will not allow us to ship to certain countries due to wars or natural disasters, see this page for delivery service alerts: https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/our-company/news-and-media/service-alerts.page
Please reach out if your country is not on this list, email us and we will try to arrange an alternate shipping option.
If you have any issues with your order, please contact us within 60 days and we will do our best to make it right.
*Shipping fees listed here are in Canadian dollars.
Ecologically Grown
Ecologically Grown
Seeds are grown ecologically without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers.
Customer Reviews
Looking to try something new in your garden highly recommend Cicada Seeds fast delivery and excellent product descriptions as well as reconditions for where to plant your new additions
Great seeds
Perfectly packaged and the seeds look great! Really excited to get these in my garden! Thank you!
I haven't planted them yet as I am waiting for spring. The seeds were well packaged and the delivery was quick and a great value.
Great seeds