Valeriana locusta
Lamb's lettuce · Common corn salad · European corn salad · European cornsalad · Cornsalad
Description
Source: leafsnapValerianella locusta is a small annual plant that is eaten as a leaf vegetable. It has a characteristic nutty flavour, dark green colour, and soft texture, and is popularly served as salad greens. Common names include corn salad, common cornsalad, lamb's lettuce, mâche (), fetticus, feldsalat, nut lettuce, field salad. In restaurants that feature French cooking, it may be called doucette or raiponce, as an alternative to mâche, by which it is best known. In German-speaking Switzerland it is known as Nüsslisalat or Nüssler, terms that have been borrowed by the area's many English speakers.
Care Guide
💧 Water
☀️ Light Full sun
African valerian comes from bright, open habitats and performs best in full sun. It will tolerate partial shade but favors direct sunlight for optimal growth. This plant, which can be annual or biennial, is noted for its sun-loving habits.
🌡️ Temperature 15–35°C
African valerian is native to habitats where temperatures range from 68 to 95 °F (20 to 35 °C). It prefers warm conditions for optimal growth. Temperatures below 68 °F or above 95 °F can hinder its ability to thrive.
💨 Humidity
🪴 Soil 6-7
🌱 Fertilizer
When most of the African valerian's flowers have fully opened, resume fertilizing. During peak flowering, feed it every three to four weeks, as the weather allows. Once the plant begins producing fewer new flowers, stop fertilizing; there's no need to feed it if it can no longer produce more blooms.
🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning
🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity
Characteristics
- Plant Type
- Herb
- Life Cycle
- Annual
- Genus
- Valeriana
- Family
- Caprifoliaceae
- Hardiness Zone
- 8-10
- Mature Height
- 20 cm to 40 cm
- Mature Spread
- 15 cm to 30 cm
- Leaf Color
- Green
- Leaf Type
- Semi-evergreen
- Flower Color
- Pink
- Flower Size
- 0.51 cm to 1.02 cm
- Bloom Time
- Early spring, Mid spring
- Planting Time
- Spring, Summer
- Harvest Time
- Late spring, Early summer
- Native Area
- Portugal, Italy, Spain, Morocco, France