Lactuca tatarica subsp. pulchella
Family: Asteraceae · Type: Herb · Native
Lactuca tatarica subsp. pulchella is a native California herb in the Asteraceae family, recognized by . Key features: perennial habit, rhizomatous, large bright blue flowers.
Lactuca tatarica is a California native perennial found in the central Sierra Nevada Mountains and northeastern California desert regions in dry to moist alluvial valleys at elevations of 1,150 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces bright blue flowers in heads 2 to 3 centimeters wide with conspicuous blossoms. Growing with erect stems 30 to 100 centimeters tall, it spreads through extensive underground rhizomes. Its leaves are varied, ranging from linear to elliptic or lanceolate, with entire to lobed edges and bases that narrow but do not clasp the stem. The fruit is red-brown to black, 4 to 5 millimeters long with 4 to 6 distinct ribs, topped with a white pappus 8 to 11 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species. Key features: perennial habit, rhizomatous, large bright blue flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry to moist alluvial valleys
Elevation: 1150-2000 m
Outside California: to Alaska, eastern Canada, central United States, New Mexico
Bloom period
Lactuca tatarica subsp. pulchella blooms Jun-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Sonchus: Look at seeds - Lactuca seeds have a distinct beak/neck, Sonchus bristles attach directly to seed.; vs Taraxacum: Taraxacum has all basal leaves on leafless stalks, Lactuca has leafy branching stems.; vs Helminthotheca: Helminthotheca has spiny-bristly outer phyllaries and yellow-orange flowers, Lactuca has smooth phyllaries.; vs Brassica: Brassica has 4-petaled cruciform flowers and long seed pods, not composite heads with bristly seeds.; vs Stephanomeria: Stephanomeria has only 3-9 flowers per small head, Lactuca has many more flowers per head.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lactuca tatarica subsp. pulchella native to California?
Yes. Lactuca tatarica subsp. pulchella is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lactuca tatarica subsp. pulchella bloom?
Lactuca tatarica subsp. pulchella blooms Jun-Sep.
What plant family does Lactuca tatarica subsp. pulchella belong to?
Lactuca tatarica subsp. pulchella is in the Asteraceae family, genus Lactuca.
What habitat does Lactuca tatarica subsp. pulchella grow in?
Lactuca tatarica subsp. pulchella grows in dry to moist alluvial valleys.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Lactuca virosa — Bitter lettuce
- Lactuca biennis — Biennial wild lettuce
- Lactuca canadensis — Canada lettuce
- Lactuca ludoviciana — Biannual lettuce
- Lactuca saligna — Narrow leaved wild lettuce
- Lactuca serriola — Prickly lettuce
- Laennecia coulteri — Coulter's horseweed
- Laennecia sp.
- Lagophylla diabolensis — Diablo Range hare-leaf
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.