Miner's Lettuce

Claytonia perfoliata is native to western North America.

• Distributed from British Columbia south to Baja California and east to the Rocky Mountains
• Found at elevations from sea level to approximately 3,000 meters
• Grows in moist, shaded sites including forests, streambanks, meadows, and disturbed areas
• Naturalized in parts of Europe, particularly western France and Britain
• First described by the English botanist William Hudson in 1778
• Used as a salad green by Native American tribes long before European contact
• Became a critical food source during the California Gold Rush (1848–1855)
• Now cultivated commercially in France, the Netherlands, and the United States as a gourmet salad ingredient

A small, annual or occasionally perennial herb, 5 to 30 cm tall.

Stems:
• Erect to ascending, slender, green to pinkish, smooth, somewhat succulent
• Branching from the base

Leaves:
• Basal leaves: spatulate to oval, forming a rosette, 1 to 5 cm long
• Cauline leaves: the signature feature — two leaves fused into a circular to heart-shaped disc (perfoliate) through which the stem passes
• Upper leaves 1 to 5 cm in diameter, bright green, succulent, slightly glossy
• Entire margins

Flowers:
• Small, 4 to 6 mm in diameter
• Five white to pinkish petals, often notched at the tips
• Born in loose racemes above the perfoliate leaves
• Five pinkish sepals, 5 to 8 stamens with pink anthers

Fruit:
• Small, ovoid capsule, 2 to 3 mm long
• Contains 1 to 6 shiny, black seeds
• Capsules open by three valves at maturity

Claytonia perfoliata is a cool-season annual of western North American forests and meadows that occupies a distinctive ecological niche as a winter-growing pioneer of moist, disturbed sites.

Habitat and Distribution:
• Native to western North America from British Columbia to Baja California and east to the Rocky Mountains
• Found at elevations from sea level to approximately 3,000 meters
• Grows in moist, shaded forests, streambanks, meadows, and disturbed areas
• Naturalized in parts of western Europe, particularly France and Britain
• Prefers cool, moist conditions and declines in hot weather

Growth and Life Cycle:
• Cool-season annual germinating in late summer to early spring
• Forms low mats 5 to 30 cm tall and 20 to 60 cm wide
• Flowers in spring; sets seed and dies as temperatures rise
• Self-seeds prolifically, with a single plant producing over 20,000 seeds
• Seeds can remain viable in soil for several years

Ecological Role:
• Provides winter ground cover in forest understories
• Early-season nectar source for native bees and flies when few other plants are flowering
• Seeds consumed by sparrows, juncos, and other ground-feeding birds
• Succulent leaves retain moisture, contributing to soil surface humidity
• Serves as a pioneer species in recently disturbed forest sites

Pollination:
• Small white to pinkish flowers with 5 petals are visited by small native bees and flies
• Primarily self-pollinating in cool conditions when pollinator activity is low
• Flowers open in sunny weather during spring'L, NULL, 'Miner's lettuce is an excellent source of vitamin C and other nutrients.

• Per 100 g fresh leaves: approximately 15 to 20 kcal
• Rich in vitamin C (approximately 20 to 33 mg per 100 g) — the quality that saved Gold Rush miners from scurvy
• Good source of vitamin A (beta-carotene)
• Contains moderate amounts of iron, calcium, and potassium
• Provides some B vitamins and vitamin K
• Low in calories but satisfying due to high water content
• Contains beneficial flavonoids and phenolic compounds
• Very low in oxalic acid compared to many wild greens

Propagated by seed directly sown in the garden.

• Sow seeds in late summer to autumn for winter-to-spring harvest in mild climates
• In cold climates, sow in early spring as soon as soil can be worked
• Scatter seeds on the soil surface and press in lightly — seeds need some light to germinate
• Germination in 7 to 14 days at 10 to 15°C (cool temperatures preferred)
• Thin seedlings to 10 to 15 cm apart
• Prefers moist, rich, well-drained soils with plenty of organic matter
• Grows best in partial shade to dappled sunlight
• Cool-season crop; plants bolt and decline in warm weather
• Harvest entire plants or individual leaves 30 to 50 days after sowing
• Self-seeds prolifically and naturalizes readily in suitable conditions

Culinary uses:
• Eaten raw as a salad green — mild, crisp, and refreshing with a slightly sweet, lettuce-like flavor
• The perfoliate leaves make an attractive presentation in salads
• Used in mesclun salad mixes for its unique cup-shaped leaves and tender texture
• Can be lightly sautéed or wilted like spinach
• Used as a garnish in upscale restaurants
• Flowers are edible and add a decorative touch to salads
• Can be added to sandwiches and wraps as a lettuce substitute
• Steamed or boiled briefly as a potherb
• The stems are also edible and add crunch