Miner’s Lettuce

Claytonia perfoliata

Miner’s lettuce is native to western North America, where it can be found in shaded, rocky, and moist habitats. It is a cool-season annual that flourishes in the spring, forming a thick groundcover of round, bright green leaves. The stem pierces each circular leaf, and small white flowers bloom from the center – a simple trait that makes it easily identifiable.

The leaves are crisp, juicy, and mild in flavor, with a taste similar to spinach. Miner’s lettuce can be eaten raw in salads, or on sandwiches, and can also be lightly cooked like other greens [1][2]. The plant got its name during the California Gold Rush, when miners foraged and ate it to prevent scurvy. It is packed with vitamin C and other minerals, and is still considered to be one of the most nutritious wild greens [3].

Valued by foragers for its abundance, mild taste, and safety – it has no toxic look-alikes, and is one of the easiest edibles to identify – miner’s lettuce is best harvested before the leaves flower, when it is at its most tender. Still common in the springtime, miner’s lettuce in woodlands and hillsides is a living testament to how nourishment can quietly grow in the cool shade.

[1] EdibleWildFood.com. “Miner’s Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata) – Wild, Edible and Nutritious Food.” https://www.ediblewildfood.com/miners-lettuce.aspx

[2] U.S. Forest Service. “Claytonia perfoliata — Miner’s Lettuce | Species Review (FEIS).” https://research.fs.usda.gov/feis/species-reviews/claper

[3] Nielson, F. H., and L. A. Fink. “Composition of Miner’s Lettuce (Montia perfoliata).” Journal of the American Dietetic Association 76, no. 1 (1980): 46–48. https://europepmc.org/article/MED/7391485