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Mycelis spp.
Europe, North Africa, and western Asia
Overview
Mycelis spp. is a genus in the daisy family (Asteraceae) usually treated as containing the single species Mycelis muralis, wall lettuce, a slender herbaceous perennial of Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. Plants send up smooth, often purple-tinged stems 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) tall from a basal rosette, with thin, pinnately lobed leaves that have a large triangular end lobe and clasp the stem. The whole plant carries milky sap typical of the lettuce group. From summer into autumn, open, branched panicles bear many small yellow flower heads, each with only five strap-shaped ray florets, that close by midday. Light, wind-borne seeds with a parachute of hairs follow and self-sow freely. Native to woodland, shaded rock, walls, and disturbed ground, the genus grows in sun or shade and has naturalized widely, including in North America, where it can become weedy.
Native Range
Mycelis muralis is native to Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, growing in open woodland, hedge banks, shaded cliffs, old walls, and disturbed ground. It has naturalized in North America and other temperate regions.Suggested Uses
Grown occasionally in woodland and wild gardens and in shaded gaps where few other flowering plants persist. More often it appears spontaneously on walls, in paving, and in shaded corners as a self-sown plant. Its shade tolerance suits dim, difficult sites.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 3'
Width/Spread8" - 1'4"
Bloom Information
Flowering runs from early summer into autumn, roughly June to September, with the small yellow heads opening in the morning and closing by midday. Bloom continues over a long period on the branched flowering stems. Fluffy seed heads follow and scatter on the wind.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Green, often purple-tingedGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
The genus grows in sun to full shade on most moist, well-drained soils and tolerates poor ground, shaded walls, and woodland edges. It self-sows freely, and seedlings appear readily in gravel, paving cracks, and beds. No feeding or special care is needed, and the plant is fully hardy. Removing flower heads before the seed ripens limits unwanted spread. Plants are short-lived but persist in gardens through self-seeding. Tolerance of deep shade sets it apart from many other daisy-family plants.Pruning
Cut down flowering stems before the seed disperses to control self-seeding. Spent plants can be pulled once they decline. No other pruning is needed.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons