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 15, 2023: 99%
- 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.
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 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 have not yet tried eating the roots, and there is limited information online about it. I suspect that it's best to harvest the roots in fall after the plant has died back, or early spring before it really starts growing. If you have tried the roots of this plant, please let me know!
Growing Instructions
Growing Instructions
Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
We ship seeds within Canada for a flat fee of $6, United States for $10, and internationally for $20*. Live plants and large bulbs can only be shipped within Canada.
Any shipping overages will be refunded.
Shipping in Canada
We ship seeds in Canada via regular letter mail, which is an untracked service, and usually takes 1-2 weeks to arrive once we fulfill your order. Larger bulbs and plants are sent via tracked flat rate box.
Shipping to the US
We ship all US orders via regular letter mail, which is an untracked service, and usually takes 1-2 weeks to arrive.
In our experience shipping seeds over several years, most small orders will make it across the border without issues, but occasionally they will be held at US Customs.
It is the buyer's responsibility to ensure that seeds or bulbils are allowed to be sent to your region. We are not able to replace packages that are confiscated or destroyed by customs in your country.
Shipping Internationally
International orders are usually shipped via untracked packet. The package will list the contents as "Garden Seeds". It is your responsibility to ensure you have the required import permit. Cicada Seeds will not be responsible for any orders held of confiscated by customs.
International shipping countries include: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom
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.
