Miner’s lettuce

Miner's lettuce, Claytonia perfoliata, is a mild tasting salad plant. It thrives in the damp milder temperatures we have in early spring in Canterbury. It pops up year after ear and self sows prolifically, which I consider a blessing. When it starts flowering it is stll tasty and edible. It makes a great pesto! The name is due to the Californian gold rush miners eating it due to it being a rich source of vitamin C.

The flowers are tiny and white. I prefer it to be raw but you can lightly cook it. I have hardly seen any pest damage which makes it a real plus in my no spray garden.

As I’ve said, it is high in vitamin C, antioxidants, calcium, vitamin A and iron. It is generally well tolerated but it does have some oxalate content. Just make sure you forage it from a clean area (unsprayed and away from busy roads).

Miner’s lettuce, Claytonia perfoliata