What Is The Decorative Lettuce Called

The cultivars of this species all tend to have fairly balmy, sweet flavors, and textures that vary from crisp and succulent to delicate and tender.

Their leaves come in different shapes, colors, and sizes – and their flowers are yellow or white, similar those of their closest wild relative, L. serriola.

Permit's take a tour of some of the best varieties of lettuce. I've included some popular choices for you to choose from, too as some bottom-known cultivars.

Let'south kickoff off with a type of L. sativa called crisphead, also known equally head or heading lettuce.

Does this sound exotic and interesting? Brace yourself. I'm talking most the category that includes good erstwhile iceberg.

Crisphead varieties like iceberg may be fairly subtle taste-wise only boy practice they have amazing texture, particularly when shredded.

Every bit their proper name suggests, crispheads are crunchy and crisp – and since they are total of water, they are wonderfully refreshing during the sweltering days of summer. While they are generally balmy tasting, some varieties have more than of a sweet flavor.

Consider for a moment that perhaps this lettuce would exist a corking team player in meals where its crisp texture can really smooth.

Why not try tossing some shredded crisphead in with some Thai noodles, or layering it into tacos, as in this recipe for crunchy beefiness tacos from our sister, site Foodal?

Photograph by Fanny Slater

The leaves of these plants abound in heads – compact circular balls – that go along the inner leaves stake and sparkling clean, making kitchen prep easier than information technology can sometimes be with homegrown loose leaf cultivars.

And when you lot pick a crisphead variety to grow in the lawn, yous have a number of choices.

'Iceberg' is sometimes pooh-poohed for its low nutritional value, merely red crisphead varieties will bring a bit of added nutrition along with their crunch.

The red compounds in vegetables such equally red crispheads contain anthocyanins, which have multiple health benefits according to studies such as this one in Food and Nutrition Research past H. Eastward. Khoo and fellow authors.

Ruby cultivars tin can be a little harder to find, but heat resistant varieties are widely bachelor. Here are some of my favorites:

1. Crisphead Cracking Lakes

First introduced in 1941 past the USDA and the Michigan Agriculture Experiment Station, 'Crisphead Swell Lakes' was an All-America Selections winner in 1944.

This green cultivar is rut resistant, bolt resistant, and is mature and set to harvest in 80-90 days.

'Crisphead Great Lakes'

This variety produces dense eight- to 12-inch heads with serrated outer leaves and a tight, crunchy heart.

'Crisphead Great Lakes' is available in seed packets of various sizes at True Leaf Market.

two. Hanson Improved

Maturing in 75-85 days, 'Hanson Improved' thrives in full sun and partial shade. With dark-green, curly leaves on the outside and a crisp white heart, this variety is also known as 'Ewing's Excelsior,' 'Gardener's Favorite,' and 'King of the Market.'

I of the more heat-tolerant varieties, the leaves and heart have a mild and sweet flavor.

'Hanson Improved'

This heirloom multifariousness originates from Maryland, where it was kickoff grown past the Hanson family unit. In 1871, Henry A. Dreer, a seed purveyor from Philadelphia, brought information technology to market place with the name 'Hanson.'

Discover seeds for 'Hanson Improved' in packets of various sizes from Truthful Foliage Market.

three. Igloo

Some other green variety, 'Igloo,' with its lightly serrated leaves, is quick to mature in just seventy days. It'southward heat resistant, thriving even in the warmer months.

'Igloo'

'Igloo' has a mild season, a crisp crisis, and a mature caput size of 8-12 inches.

Find seeds in packets of 500 at Burpee for sowing in spring or fall.

four. Webbs Wonderful

An heirloom multifariousness originating in England, 'Webbs Wonderful' is estrus resistant, and produces firm, sweetness-tasting heads of 7-11 inches in diameter. The outer leaves are softly crumpled, surrounding a well-baked, stake light-green middle.

Deadening to bolt and estrus-resistant, 'Webbs Wonderful' matures in 72 days.

'Webbs Wonderful'

This diversity was introduced in 1890 past Clarence Webb, an English horticulturalist.

You can discover seeds in diverse bundle sizes available at True Leaf Market.

Butterhead

Sometimes in life things are named perfectly, and I experience that butterhead is ane such case. Butterheads don't just accept a soft, buttery texture – they also have a creamy, buttery taste.

If yous happen to know a veggie-phobe, yous should try sneaking some butterhead onto their plate.

Butterheads take none of the strong, bitter, or pungent tastes that put some people off of eating fresh, healthy greens, and their leaves are soft and tender.

And recipes such as this one from Foodal combine this type of lettuce with mellow and fruity ingredients – avocado and mango, in this case – for a salad that tastes truly decadent.

Photo by Shanna Mallon

The broad, tender leaves of butterheads course a loose caput, making it easy to harvest leaves every bit needed in the garden, cut-and-come-over again way. Or, wait until maturity and pick the whole matter.

Also known as Bibb or Boston lettuce, butterheads (L. sativa var. capitata) come up in a selection of green and red shades, and nearly varieties are moderately estrus tolerant.

5. Bibb

Probably one of the best known varieties of butterhead lettuce, 'Bibb' is named later John B. Bibb, an army officer during the War of 1812.

Originally called "limestone lettuce" it was first introduced to the market place by Grenewein Greenhouse in Louisville in the 1920s.

With its abundance of soft green leaves and a tender stake centre, this diverseness matures in 55-60 days, and outer leaves can be harvested earlier in a cut-and-come-over again manner.

'Bibb'

The 8- to ten-inch lightly ruffled leaves grade a rosette shape, and are tender and delicate with a mild flavor. 'Bibb' prefers a full lord's day location and is somewhat heat tolerant.

Discover seeds in a variety of packet sizes from Eden Brothers.

six. Bronze Mignonette

Add some color to your salad with 'Bronze Mignonette.' With its soft green leaves tinted with bronze, this heirloom variety was beginning introduced past the Iowa Seed Company in 1896.

Dull to bolt, this heat-tolerant cultivar matures in 65-lxx days, with 8- to 10-inch heads and crisp, slightly crumpled leaves.

'Bronze Mignonette'

'Bronze Mignonette' prefers a full sun location, and will tolerate a lite frost.

You can purchase seeds in a diverseness of packet sizes from Eden Brothers.

7. Buttercrunch

Tender, crisp, and delicious, laurels-winning 'Buttercrunch' has rich light-green leaves that are oft tinged with red, which class a rosette shape around a loose caput.

Bolt- and heat-resistant, this piece of cake to abound variety prefers full dominicus merely volition tolerate partial shade, specially in warmer climates.

Maturing in 65 days, with half-dozen- to 8-inch heads, y'all can harvest outer leaves early as a cut-and-come-once again crop, should yous wish to.

'Buttercrunch'

An All-America Selections Winner in the edible vegetable category in 1963, 'Buttercrunch' was start introduced past Cornell University.

Detect seeds for 'Buttercrunch' in a diversity of packet sizes from Eden Brothers or read more about growing information technology here.

8. Dynamite

This hybrid cultivar is notable for beingness resistant to aphids, lettuce mosaic virus, and water mold. Soft, overlapping, crumpled leaves grade a dense, rounded shape.

Maturing in 65-75 days, you tin harvest 8 to x-inch heads with a sweet flavor and crisp, yet delicate texture. Alternatively, outset harvesting outer leaves later on twoscore-50 days.

'Dynamite'

Not as heat tolerant as some of the other varieties described in a higher place, information technology's best planted in a full sun location in autumn or early jump.

You can buy packets of 500 'Dynamite' seeds from Burpee.

9. 4 Seasons

Also known as 'Marvel of Four Seasons,' this French heirloom butterhead multifariousness is especially cold tolerant. Leaves range in color from statuary to red and stake green, and grade an attractive rosette shape.

'Four Seasons'

Ideal for late season harvests of tender, crinkled, sugariness-tasting leaves, '4 Seasons' matures in 55 days. Disliking the rut, information technology has a tendency to bolt in warmer weather.

Add together 'Four Seasons' to your garden at present with packets of 500 seeds available at Burpee.

10. Tom Thumb

With diminutive 3- to 5-inch heads, the English variety 'Tom Thumb' is ideal for smaller gardens or container growing. Soft, green, crinkled leaves grade meaty heads in just 50-60 days.

With a crisp but tender texture and balmy, slightly nutty flavor, mature 'Tom Pollex' heads are the perfect size to make a succulent side salad for two people.

Tolerant of lite frosts, this multifariousness enjoys a full sun location.

'Tom Pollex'

'Tom Thumb' is 1 of the oldest U.s. cultivars still ordinarily available on the market place today. It was described and depicted in the French seed company Vilmorin-Andrieux'south illustrated book "The Vegetable Garden," which was first translated to English in 1885.

Find seeds in a variety of bundle sizes from Eden Brothers.

eleven. Yugoslavian Crimson

If y'all want your lettuce to await beautiful and taste great, try 'Yugoslavian Red.' Set to harvest afterwards only 55 days, you'll love the bright green leaves that are dappled with burgundy, surrounding a yellowish-greenish center.

An heirloom variety hailing from the land formerly known as Yugoslavia, this cultivar was introduced to the United states in 1987 by the Southern Exposure Seed Exchange.

The loose, rounded heads mature to be 10-12 inches in diameter, and the outer leaves can exist harvested earlier in the season equally a cut-and-come-once again crop.

'Yugoslavian Red'

Happier in libation temperatures, 'Yugoslavian Red' has a trend to commodities when the mercury rises.

You can find packets of ane,300 seeds available at Burpee.

Romaine

Equally the star of the Caesar salad, romaine (L. sativa var. longifolia) is a familiar sight in the lettuce world.

Likewise known every bit "cos," this long leaved salad greenish is crisp and crunchy, and normally has a mild, or just slightly bitter taste. In general, romaine cultivars are among the most heat tolerant lettuce varieties.

Romaine can be found in varieties that are green, ruby-red, bronze, or speckled.

It's fairly easy to find romaine in the supermarket – only usually only the greenish variety. If yous grow your own, you can put a colorful spin on those Caesar salads.

12. Cimarron

With pale green hearts and burgundy outer leaves, 'Cimmaron' is an heirloom variety that dates back to the 1700s. Besides known as 'Red Romaine,' it has a balmy, sweet flavor and crunchy texture.

Maturing in just 60 days with ten- to 12-inch-long leaves, this multifariousness looks as adept in the garden as it does on the plate!

Commodities- and heat-resistant, 'Cimarron' is also lightly frost tolerant, and can be harvested early on for baby leaves.

'Cimmaron'

Some sources suggest that this variety has been cultivated in the Usa since the 1700s, simply the 'Cimarron' we know today was really brought to market in 1991 by Dorsing Seeds in Oregon.

Find seeds in a variety of parcel sizes from True Leaf Market.

13. EZ Serve

Easy to grow and "EZ" to serve, this greenish variety was introduced past Burpee in 2008. Information technology matures in 65 days, with eight- to x-inch densely-packed leaves.

Quick to gear up, but snap them off at the base of operations of the stalk, and they're plate-ready (afterwards a quick rinse, of course).

'EZ Serve'

'EZ Serve' tin be grown in full sun or fractional shade, and the crunchy stems and crisp leaves have a mild flavor.

Y'all can find packets of 500 seeds bachelor at Burpee.

14. Forellenschluss

This heirloom variety hails from Austria, and its may be translated from German to English every bit "speckled like a trout." This unusual cultivar has long, bright greenish leaves with wine-ruby-red spots and is as well known as 'Freckles' or 'Trout Back.'

Maturing in fifty-70 days, this estrus- and bolt-resistant variety tin can be grown in full sun or fractional shade.

'Forellenschluss'

The buttery, tender leaves have a mild, virtually sugariness flavor and grow to a mature meridian of 8-12 inches. You lot can harvest them early if you're a fan of baby greens.

You lot'll find packets of 500 'Forellenschluss' seeds bachelor at Burpee.

15. Little Caesar

'Little Caesar' has delicate light-green outer leaves with a light aureate middle. Smaller than some of the other romaine lettuces, each mature head is the perfect size to make a Caesar salad for ii people.

'Piddling Caesar'

This variety prefers cooler weather condition, and is not rut tolerant. Growing to a mature height of 8-12 inches in 70 days, the leaves accept a sweet flavor.

You lot can observe packets of 700 seeds bachelor at Burpee.

16. Little Gem

With its sugariness, nutty flavor and diminutive size, 'Little Precious stone' is the perfect variety for the smaller garden. This heirloom grows up to 6 inches tall, and takes merely 50 days to mature – or xxx days, if you harvest baby greens.

Described in the UK as a "semi-cos," this diverseness resembles a minor butterhead lettuce, but there is some disagreement among gardeners about how to allocate it.

However it is officially classified, it is like a cantankerous between a butterhead lettuce and a romaine. 'Fiddling Gem' has soft outer leaves and a tight, dense centre.

'Little Gem'

Crisp and flavorful, 'Fiddling Gem' grows happily in full sun or partial shade, and prefers absurd weather.

Discover seeds in a diversity of bundle sizes at Eden Brothers.

17. Parris Isle

Named after Parris Island, located off the coast of S Carolina, this hybrid cultivar has a stake green heart surrounded past night green, upright outer leaves.

Introduced by the Ferry-Morse Seed Visitor in 1951, 'Parris Isle' is a cross between the imaginatively named 'PI120965' and 'Dark Green Cos,' and was developed past the Agricultural Experiment Station at Clemson College.

Noted for its resistance to tip burn, 'Parris Isle' is bolt resistant and prefers a full sun location.

'Parris Island'

You tin harvest mature 12-inch leaves in 65-70 days, or harvest early for babe greens. The delicate, well-baked leaves take a sweet and mild flavour.

You tin buy seeds in a variety of parcel sizes from Eden Brothers.

18. Paris White

'Paris White' is a French heirloom variety brought to the US by Thomas Jefferson, and grown at his garden at Monticello.

This slow-growing variety matures in 75-85 days. The x-inch leaves have a crisp texture and sweetness flavor. Emerald green outer leaves enclose a pale dark-green heart.

'Paris White'

This diverseness thrives in a full sun or part shade location, and tin exist harvested early on for tender babe greens.

You tin can discover seeds for 'Paris White' in a variety of packet sizes from Eden Brothers.

nineteen. Vivian

'Vivian' is the largest of all the romaine lettuces I've come across. With tightly bunched 12 to xvi-inch leaves and a 6-inch-wide head, yous'll be able to feef Caesar's army with this variety.

The giant leaves mature in 70 days, although you tin harvest early on for smaller greens.

'Vivian'

This bolt-resistant variety prefers absurd weather and will tolerate a calorie-free frost. The broad leaves have a mild, slightly sweet flavour and a delicate texture.

Add 'Vivian' to your garden today with packets of 300 seeds, available at Burpee.

Loose Foliage

Influenced by the many years that I spent living in France, when I eat salad equally a side dish, I usually want it to be fairly simple – just lettuce with some oil and vinegar, that'southward it.

Loose leafage lettuces are the perfect choice for no-fuss side dish salads such every bit these.

Loose leaf cultivars generally have a mild, sweetness flavor, and a texture that is both tender and toothsome – and so these fresh greens may be enjoyed without a lot of beautification.

Varieties of this blazon of lettuce come up in shades of yellow, green, red, bronze, and burgundy.

Their large, broad leaves are sometimes apartment with frilled edges, and sometimes extremely savoyed, or frilly, as is the example with the 'Lollo Rosso' cultivar.

Loose leaf types tend to be slow to bolt and heat tolerant, lasting longer into the summer than heading lettuces. The leaves are easy to cutting and harvest as needed.

twenty. Black Seeded Simpson

With slightly ruffled, bright dark-green leaves, this heirloom cultivar was first introduced to the Usa by Peter Henderson and Visitor in the 1870s.

Fast-growing, 'Black Seeded Simpson' matures in but forty-fifty days, although yous can start harvesting even earlier for infant greens.

'Black Seeded Simpson'

Its abundant leaves have a crisp, juicy texture, and sweet, mild flavor. This diversity is moderately heat resistant, and will tolerate a light frost, making it a versatile addition to your garden.

You tin notice seeds in a variety of packet sizes available at Eden Brothers.

21. Deer Natural language

'Deer Tongue,' one of my favorite cultivars, is an heirloom variety with arrowhead-shaped leaves that are delicate and delicious.

The leaves abound upwards and form a rosette shape around a central mid-rib. The young, tender outer leaves are milder in flavor than the mature inner ones.

Also known as 'Matchless,' this heirloom variety is heat resistant, slow to bolt, and will mature in just 46 days.

'Deer Natural language'

Information technology was first officially documented in 1885 past the New York Agronomical Experiment Station, and is thought to have been brought to the United states by English settlers in the mid-18th century.

'Deer Natural language' seeds can be constitute in packs of 500 from David's Garden Seeds via Amazon.

22. Grand Rapids

A vigorous grower, 'Grand Rapids' has vivid green, crinkled leaves with frilly edges. Maturing in just 50 days, you lot can harvest young leaves equally early as 30 days after germination.

With a crisp, juicy texture, and a balmy, slightly sweet flavor, this early-maturing diverseness prefers absurd conditions conditions, although it is somewhat heat tolerant, and dull to bolt.

'Grand Rapids'

This heirloom variety was grown in the late 1800s by Eugene Davis, a farmer in Grand Rapids, Michigan, who propagated it in a greenhouse. He after became known as the "father of the forcing lettuce concern."

If you want to add 'Grand Rapids' to your garden, seeds are available in a variety of packet sizes at Eden Brothers.

23. Green Ice

With its glossy green, frilly leaves, 'Dark-green Water ice' has the crunch of a crisphead with the ruffled await of a loose-leafage. Maturing in just 45 days, this variety is heat resistant and tiresome to bolt. The 12-inch leaves have a well-baked, delicious texture and deliciously sugariness flavor.

'Light-green Water ice'

Offset introduced by W. Atlee Burpee and Visitor in 1973, this variety is a cantankerous between 'Fordhook' and 'G Rapids.'

'Greenish Ice' is a vigorous grower, and will provide multiple harvests of crunchy greens.

You can find packets of i,000 seeds available at Burpee.

24. Lollo Rosso

This heirloom Italian variety has frilly, wavy, ruffled leaves. Low-cal light-green stems give way to deep burgundy edges.

With a nutty, mildly bitter flavor, 'Lollo Rosso' matures in 55-60 days with six- to eight-inch loose-leaf heads. You can start harvesting baby leaves later just 30 days.

'Lollo Rosso'

A winner of the Royal Horticultural Guild's Award of Garden Merit, 'Lollo Rosso' is slow to bolt, but prefers cool temperatures. You may besides see this variety called 'Lolla Rosso.'

Observe seeds in a variety of packet sizes from True Leaf Market.

25. Prizehead

In spite of its name, 'Prizehead' is a loose foliage variety, with upright ruffled leaves that are pale green with night burgundy edges. Beginning brought to the marketplace by W. A. Burpee and Company in 1881, this irksome-to-bolt variety matures in 40-50 days.

'Prizehead'

With a crunchy texture and sweet flavor, 'Prizehead' will add together color to your garden and your plate.

Y'all can detect seeds for 'Prizehead' in packets of various sizes at Eden Brothers.

26. Cerise Sails

With large, crumpled leaves that are light-green at the base and give way to deep cherry edges, 'Red Sails' has a soft texture, and a sweet, mild flavor. An All-America Selections Winner in the edible vegetable category in 1985, this easy-to-grow variety matures in just 45 days.

The large leaves abound upright to ten inches tall, or they can exist harvested early for baby greens.

'Red Sails'

Commodities resistant, 'Reddish Sails' will tolerate a light frost.

You can notice seeds in a variety of packet sizes bachelor at Truthful Leaf Market.

27. Ruby

One of the nigh intensely colored lettuce cultivars available, 'Ruby' is an heirloom variety with a deep burgundy colour and ruffled leaves. It reaches maturity and is ready to harvest in 40-50 days.

Slow to commodities, this variety is oestrus tolerant and volition retain its color fifty-fifty in hot conditions.

'Ruby'

Introduced to the marketplace in 1957 past the USDA in Beltsville, Maryland, 'Ruby' was an All-America Selections Winner in the edible vegetable category in 1958.

You can discover seeds for 'Ruby' in a variety of bundle sizes at Eden Brothers.

Oak Leafage

A singled-out type of loose foliage lettuce, oak leafage has a subtle flavor similar to regular loose foliage, just with smaller, deeply lobed leaves.

These can easily be turned into a salad without chopping or tearing, and they accept a delicate, tender texture.

I like to use oak leaf lettuce every bit a neutral backdrop where the toppings are going to steal the prove, such as in this recipe from Foodal for a salad loaded with berries and walnuts, finished with a cayenne honey vinaigrette.

Photo by Shanna Mallon

Similar other loose leaf types, oak leaf lettuces tend to exist heat tolerant and bolt resistant. The leaves are easy to cut and harvest as needed.

Oftentimes found in shades of green or red, there are as well statuary-colored cultivars.

28. Statuary Guard

'Bronze Guard' is an oak leaf variety that will give y'all a slightly bitter but flavorful and juicy harvest. It comes to maturity in 70 days, withal yous can pick younger leaves after 50 days.

'Bronze Guard'

Calorie-free green with statuary edging, this heirloom diverseness is heat tolerant and will provide a bountiful harvest to add together texture and color to your salads.

You can observe 'Bronze Baby-sit' in seed packets of diverse sizes from True Leaf Market.

29. Oakleaf

Introduced in 1771 by the French seed company Vilmorin-Andrieux, 'Oakleaf' has light-green, lobed leaves with a delicate, tender texture and sweet, mild flavor.

'Oakleaf'

Maturing in only forty days, 'Oakleaf' is common cold tolerant and heat resistant, providing a bountiful harvest throughout the growing flavor.

Find seed packets of diverse sizes from True Leaf Market.

Greens to Envy

With so many textures, flavors, and colors to cull from, lettuce makes a wonderful addition to your kitchen garden that will provide you lot with bountiful harvests of nutritious greens.

Which of these leafy greens are you lot gear up to found in your garden – or add to your next salad? Let us know in the comments.

To larn more virtually growing lettuce in your garden, try these guides next:

• Plant Your Salad Greens Early: Tips for Growing Lettuce and Microgreens
• How to be Successful with Your Lettuce Patch
• Grow Leafage Lettuce: Harvest Cute, Nutritious Salads from Your Own Backyard
• How to Identify and Control Mutual Lettuce Pests

Photos past Fanny Slater, Shanna Mallon, and Raquel Smith © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Come across our TOS for more details. Originally published on Feb 25, 2020. Last updated on March 13, 2020. Production photos via Burpee, David'due south Garden Seeds, Eden Brothers, and Truthful Leaf Market. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. With additional writing and editing by Clare Groom and Allison Sidhu.

Source: https://gardenerspath.com/plants/vegetables/best-lettuce-varieties/

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