Heirloom

Claytonia

Claytonia perfoliata

Wikimedia Commons

Quantities of heart-shaped leaf pairs, each "wrapped" around a white-flowered stem. Can tolerate moderate frost and can be grown all winter in mild regions or in cold greenhouses. The taste of the young leaves is wild and fresh. Suitable for multiple cuttings. Also known as miner's lettuce.

Harvest

40d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Part sun

☀️

Zones

4–10

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

1 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct Sow

Harvest

Direct Sow

Harvest

Showing dates for Claytonia in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 lettuce →

Zone Map

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Claytonia · Zones 4–10

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing6-12 inches

SoilWell-drained, fertile soil

WaterModerate — regular watering

SeasonWarm season annual

FlavorWild, fresh, and delicate flavor with mild, slightly tangy notes ideal for fresh salads.

ColorGreen

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 1	—	—	June – July	July – September
Zone 2	—	—	May – July	June – September
Zone 11	—	—	January – February	January – December
Zone 12	—	—	January – February	January – December
Zone 13	—	—	January – February	January – December
Zone 3	—	—	May – June	June – October
Zone 4	—	—	April – June	June – October
Zone 5	—	—	April – May	May – November
Zone 6	—	—	April – May	May – November
Zone 7	—	—	March – May	April – November
Zone 8	—	—	March – April	April – December
Zone 9	—	—	February – March	March – December
Zone 10	—	—	January – March	February – December

Succession Planting

Direct sow every 14 days starting March 1 in zone 7, continuing through early May. Once daytime highs are consistently above 75°F, claytonia bolts quickly and the leaves turn bitter — at that point pull it and plant something heat-tolerant in its place. You can pick back up with a late-summer sowing in late August or early September as temperatures fall back into the 60s, and in a mild year you'll be cutting leaves well into November. The fall window often outperforms spring: fewer slugs, lower aphid populations, and the foliage stays tender longer without the pressure of lengthening days pushing the plant to flower.

Complete Growing Guide

Growing Claytonia (Claytonia perfoliata) lettuce. Light: Part sun. Hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8. Days to maturity: 40. Difficulty: Easy.

Harvesting

Ready for harvest in 40 days from sowing or transplant. Harvest at peak ripeness for best flavor and storage life. Pick regularly to encourage continued production where applicable.

Storage & Preservation

Harvest Claytonia at 40 days when leaves are tender and succulent. Store freshly picked greens in a perforated plastic bag in the refrigerator's crisper drawer at 32–40°F with 95% humidity; they'll keep for 5–7 days before wilting. For longer preservation, blanch whole sprigs for two minutes, then freeze on a tray before bagging—frozen Claytonia works well in soups and smoothies but loses crispness for fresh eating. Drying is less rewarding due to the plant's high water content and delicate leaves, which shrivel considerably. Claytonia's mild, slightly nutty flavor fades quickly when cooked, so freezing raw rather than cooking first preserves better taste for later use. Unlike hardier lettuces, this variety doesn't respond well to canning or fermenting due to its tender texture and subtle flavor profile.

History & Origin

Claytonia perfoliata, commonly known as miner's lettuce or winter purslane, is a flowering plant in the family Montiaceae. It is an edible, fleshy, herbaceous, annual plant native to the western mountain and coastal regions of North America.

Advantages

+Easy to grow — beginner-friendly
+Quick harvest — ready in about 40 days

Companion Plants

Chives and garlic are the most useful companions here — both emit sulfur compounds that deter aphids, and since lettuce mosaic virus rides in on aphid vectors like green peach aphid (Myzus persicae), cutting down that pressure early pays off. Radishes and carrots work well because their roots occupy a different depth than claytonia's shallow mat, so neither plant is pulling from the same pocket of soil. Peas and mâche share claytonia's preference for cool, part-shade conditions and won't bully it for light. Keep mint well away — it spreads by underground runners and will consume the bed before claytonia hits 40 days. Fennel is allelopathic and tends to suppress most neighbors; give it its own isolated spot.

Plant Together

Chives

Repels aphids and improves soil health with shallow roots

Radishes

Quick harvest allows space for claytonia to spread, breaks up soil

Spinach

Similar growing conditions and harvest timing, compatible root systems

Carrots

Deep roots don't compete with shallow claytonia roots, maximizes space usage

Peas

Fix nitrogen in soil benefiting leafy greens, provide light shade

Garlic

Natural pest deterrent, doesn't compete for surface nutrients

Mâche (Corn Salad)

Similar cool-season growing requirements and compatible growth habits

Lettuce

Compatible growth requirements and harvest timing for succession planting

Keep Apart

Mint

Aggressive spreading nature can overwhelm delicate claytonia plants

Brassicas

Heavy feeders that compete for nutrients and may shade out low-growing claytonia

Fennel

Allelopathic compounds inhibit growth of most companion plants including claytonia

Nutrition Facts

Protein

0.742g(1%)

Carbs

3.37g(1%)

Fat

0.0738g(0%)

Vitamin K

20.5mcg(17%)

Iron

0.0332mg(0%)

Calcium

14.2mg(1%)

Potassium

139mg(3%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346388)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Common Pests

Slugs, snails, aphids

Diseases

Downy mildew, lettuce mosaic virus

Troubleshooting Claytonia

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Seedlings collapse at soil level within the first 7–10 days after direct sowing, sometimes with a fuzzy whitish mold on the soil surface nearby

Likely Causes

Damping off — a complex of soil-borne fungi (Pythium spp., Rhizoctonia solani) that thrive in cold, waterlogged soil
Overwatering or poor drainage holding moisture around the stem base

What to Do

1.Pull the dead seedlings and check the stem base — if it's pinched or rotted at soil level, damping off is your culprit
2.Let the soil surface dry slightly between waterings; claytonia doesn't need constant moisture to germinate
3.Next sowing, work in compost to improve drainage and avoid sowing into soil below 45°F, where these fungi have the advantage

Irregular yellow patches on the upper leaf surface with a gray-purple fuzzy coating on the underside, appearing after a stretch of cool, wet weather

Likely Causes

Downy mildew (Peronospora farinosa or a related strain) — spreads fast in humid conditions below 65°F
Dense plantings that trap moisture and limit airflow

What to Do

1.Remove and trash affected leaves immediately — don't compost them
2.Thin to at least 6 inches apart to open up airflow between plants
3.Switch to drip or base watering; overhead spray in the evening is about the best way to invite this disease back

Leaves show mosaic-pattern mottling — irregular light and dark green patches — with some distortion or puckering of young growth

Likely Causes

Lettuce mosaic virus (LMV) — transmitted by aphids, particularly green peach aphid (Myzus persicae)
Infected seed stock (LMV can be seed-borne)

What to Do

1.Pull and dispose of affected plants; there's no cure once a plant is infected
2.Check the undersides of leaves for aphid colonies and knock them off with a strong stream of water, or apply insecticidal soap at a 1–2% dilution
3.Source seed from a supplier that tests for LMV; certified virus-free seed exists for this reason

Ragged holes in leaves overnight, with silvery slime trails on the soil or foliage visible in the morning

Likely Causes

Slugs or snails — especially active in the cool, moist conditions that claytonia prefers
Mulch or debris too close to plant bases providing daytime cover

What to Do

1.Set out a shallow container of beer or a 1:1 water-yeast solution at soil level — slugs drop in and drown
2.Scatter iron phosphate bait (Sluggo or equivalent) around the bed; it breaks down into fertilizer and won't harm pets
3.Pull mulch back 3–4 inches from plant bases and clear any boards or debris near the bed where slugs hole up during the day

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Claytonia lettuce take to grow from seed to harvest?▼

Claytonia typically reaches harvest-ready size in about 40 days from planting. The young leaves can be picked for cutting earlier, around 30 days, for tender salad greens. Multiple successive harvests are possible, making it an efficient choice for continuous cropping throughout the growing season.

Is Claytonia lettuce good for beginner gardeners?▼

Yes, Claytonia is an excellent choice for beginners. It's rated as an easy-difficulty variety that tolerates moderate frost and poor conditions well. It's forgiving of mistakes, grows quickly, and can be harvested multiple times from a single planting, providing rewarding results even for inexperienced growers.

Can you grow Claytonia lettuce in containers?▼

Yes, Claytonia grows well in containers. Its compact, heart-shaped leaf rosettes don't require much space, making it ideal for pots and window boxes. Container growing allows you to move plants to sheltered locations during cold spells, extending the harvest season in cooler climates.

What does Claytonia lettuce taste like?▼

Claytonia has a wild, fresh, and tender flavor with mild, slightly tangy notes. The young leaves are particularly delicate and are prized for salads and garnishes. Its unique taste distinguishes it from common lettuce varieties and makes it popular with chefs and home gardeners seeking unique greens.

When should I plant Claytonia lettuce?▼

Direct sow Claytonia seeds in spring or early autumn. In mild regions, it can be grown throughout winter in cold greenhouses or outdoors. It tolerates moderate frost, making it suitable for extended growing seasons. For continuous harvests, sow successively every 2-3 weeks.

What makes Claytonia lettuce different from regular lettuce?▼

Claytonia, also called miner's lettuce, is structurally unique with heart-shaped leaf pairs wrapped around white-flowered stems, unlike traditional head or loose-leaf lettuce. It tolerates cold better, has a distinct wild flavor, and offers multiple cuttings from one plant, making it more versatile than standard varieties.