{"id":281,"date":"2022-09-08T12:51:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T12:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/?post_type=product&p=281"},"modified":"2025-08-03T22:30:22","modified_gmt":"2025-08-03T22:30:22","slug":"tree-lettuce","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/product\/tree-lettuce\/","title":{"rendered":"Tree lettuce"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Botanical name:<\/strong> Lactuca indica<\/p>\r\n

Some other names:<\/strong> Indian lettuce, Chinese sword lettuce, Timor lettuce<\/p>\r\n

How to Grow It<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Tree lettuce is technically an annual<\/b>, but if you cut it back hard it behaves like a short-lived perennial <\/b>and will regrow from the base. It can shoot up to 2 metres tall<\/b> with long, upright leaves and hollow stems, giving it a bit of a \u201cmini tree\u201d look in the garden.<\/p>\r\n

Climate:<\/b> Best suited to subtropical and tropical regions<\/b>, but it will also grow in warm temperate climates through summer.
Sun & shade:<\/b> Handles full sun or part shade<\/b> \u2013 leaves are more tender and less bitter<\/b> in partial shade.
Soil & water:<\/b> Will happily grow in ordinary soil<\/b> but thrives with compost, manure, and regular moisture.<\/b> It\u2019s not fussy \u2013 I\u2019ve seen it flourish even when neglected \u2013 but better soil means better-tasting leaves.
Seasons:<\/b> In the tropics it can grow almost year-round, but in cooler areas, treat it as a warm-season plant.
Propagation:<\/b> Tree lettuce self-seeds enthusiastically<\/b> \u2013 sometimes too enthusiastically! It will pop up around the garden like a \u201cfriendly weed.\u201d You can also collect seed after flowering or take tip cuttings<\/b>.
Containers:<\/b> Grows well in large pots<\/b>, but be prepared to prune \u2013 it can get very tall and will benefit from being cut back regularly.<\/p>\r\n

Tip:<\/b> Keep a few plants in different spots (some in sun, some in shade) \u2013 you\u2019ll have tender leaves almost year-round.

<\/p>\r\n

Herbal & Nutrient Value<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Tree lettuce isn\u2019t just another leafy green \u2013 it\u2019s solid nutritionally as well<\/b>.<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  • High in vitamins A, B, & C<\/b> \u2013 for immunity, energy, and healthy skin.<\/li>\r\n
  • Good levels of calcium & iron<\/b> \u2013 for bones and blood.<\/li>\r\n
  • Contains protein<\/b> \u2013 unusual for a leafy green.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

    Medicinally<\/b>, tree lettuce contains lactucarium<\/b> \u2013 sometimes called \u201clettuce opium.\u201d This is a mild sedative compound<\/b> traditionally used to calm nerves, soothe anxiety, and even help with sleep. The slightly bitter taste<\/b> also makes it a liver tonic<\/b> \u2013 bitters are known to help digestion and detoxification.

    <\/p>\r\n

    Traditional & Home Remedies<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

    Sedative infusion:<\/strong> Steep flowering tops or mature leaves in hot water, cool, strain; sip before bed for relaxation.
    <\/span>Lactucarium tincture:<\/strong> Collect latex sap, partially dry, dissolve in alcohol; dosed sparingly as sleep aid.
    <\/span>Digestive tea:<\/strong> Fresh or dried leaves steeped and cooled; drink after meals to ease digestion.
    <\/span>Poultice for pain:<\/strong> Crush leaves and apply to sore joints or minor wounds for anti-inflammatory relief.
    <\/span>Cough syrup:<\/strong> Infuse leaves with honey; take small doses orally for cough or throat irritation.

    <\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Using It in the Kitchen<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

    Tree lettuce is incredibly versatile.<\/p>\r\n

      \r\n
    • Young leaves<\/b>: Tender, mild, and slightly bitter \u2013 great raw in salads and sandwiches.<\/b><\/b><\/li>\r\n
    • Older leaves<\/b>: Stronger in flavour \u2013 best cooked<\/b> (stir-fries, soups, casseroles) to mellow the bitterness.<\/li>\r\n
    • Stems<\/b>: Peel the outer layer and you\u2019ll find a crisp, juicy core<\/b> that can be stir-fried or braised \u2013 almost like celery meets asparagus.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

      Storage tip:<\/b> Best used fresh, but you can store picked leaves in a sealed bag in the fridge for 2\u20133 days.<\/p>\r\n

      Simple recipe ideas<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

      – Asian-Style Stir-Fry:<\/b> Toss chopped stems and older leaves with garlic, soy sauce, and a splash of sesame oil.
      – Tree Lettuce & Egg Omelette:<\/b> Add finely sliced young leaves to whisked eggs for a green-packed breakfast.
      – Bitter Green Soup:<\/b> Simmer older leaves with miso, ginger, and tofu for a cleansing soup.
      – Garden Wraps:<\/b> Use large young leaves instead of tortillas to wrap rice, veggies, or even cooked meats.
      – Quick Pickled Stems:<\/b> Peel stems, slice thinly, and pickle in vinegar, sugar, and chilli for a crunchy condiment.

      <\/p>\r\n

      Other Uses<\/b><\/h3>\r\n
        \r\n
      • Animal fodder:<\/b> Chickens, goats, and rabbits will happily eat cut-back stems and leaves.<\/li>\r\n
      • Mulch maker:<\/b> It grows so fast you can \u201cchop and drop\u201d for instant, nitrogen-rich mulch.<\/li>\r\n
      • Ornamental filler:<\/b> Its tall, upright habit makes it useful as a backdrop in garden beds<\/b>.

        <\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

        Why it\u2019s a survival plant:<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

        Tree lettuce is terrifically hardy<\/b>, keeps producing when other lettuces wilt, and offers leaves, stems, and even mulch<\/b> from one plant. For warm-climate gardeners, it\u2019s a reliable, no-fuss green<\/b> that earns its keep year after year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Tree lettuce is a tall, hardy green<\/b> that can grow up to 2 metres and keeps coming back if you cut it down. It thrives in hot, humid weather when regular lettuce sulks, making it a special survival green<\/b> for warm climates.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":231,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"off","neve_meta_content_width":100,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":""},"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[41,42,43,46],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-281","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"product_cat-mulch-plants","7":"product_cat-pot-and-container-plants","8":"product_cat-salad-leaves","9":"product_cat-stir-fry-plants","11":"first","12":"instock","13":"shipping-taxable","14":"product-type-simple"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/281","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=281"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/231"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_brand?post=281"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat?post=281"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_tag?post=281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}