Claytonia perfoliata, Montia perfoliata
Miner's Lettuce
Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Claytonia perfoliata, Montia perfoliata.
Plant photos
2 photos · Select to enlarge
The growth habit of Claytonia perfoliata.
Walter Siegmund (talk) / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo details
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Source: File:Claytonia perfoliata 6641.JPG
Reviewed . Source identification, photograph and license reviewed. The image illustrates the named plant; it does not verify dimensions or other plant traits.
Flowers of Claytonia perfoliata.
Irene / Wikimedia Commons / CC0
Photo details
Resized and converted to WebP. No content edits.
Source: File:Claytonia perfoliata 130185834.jpg
Reviewed . Source identification, photograph and license reviewed. The image illustrates the named plant; it does not verify dimensions or other plant traits.
Common names
4 names · 3 languages- EnglishYour language
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- Miner's Lettuce
Other languages (2)
- Dutch
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- kleine winterpostelein
- Winterpostelein
- French
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- Claytonie perfoliée
Sources & name notes
Names recorded in our plant catalogue, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.
General information
Accepted in the cited taxonomic treatment. Botanical references may use alternative names.
Sources [1]Plant characteristics
Growing conditions
Moist
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Partial shade, Full sun
Uses
Leaves, Flowers, Root
Ground cover
Description
Leaves - raw or cooked. These leaves have a fairly neutral taste and a slightly slimy texture, making them ideal for salads. Young leaves are the tastiest. Older leaves can become bitter, especially in the summer or if the plant grows in a hot, dry place. Although the leaves are small, they are abundant and easy to pick. Stems and flowers - raw. These can be a nice addition to salads. Roots - raw. Although harvesting the small roots is labor-intensive, the cooked and peeled roots taste like chestnuts. There are reports suggesting that the plant has a fine root system, which might render the above report incorrect.
Harvest
Sources and references
References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.
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Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
Relevant sections
- Taxonomy: WCVP version 16, wcvp_names.csv: Claytonia perfoliata Donn ex Willd., name ID 2725205, row 773850; Montia perfoliata (Donn ex Willd.) Howell, name ID 2508959, row 1347606
- Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1347613; name ID 2724990; Claytonia L.. Family column.
Source checked on .
Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.