Lettuce plants trace their origins to the temperate regions of Europe and West Asia, where early forms emerged from wild Asteraceae species and were cultivated from an early stage. Over many centuries, numerous regional types developed, each adapted to different climatic zones. Their diversity ranges from loose and firm heads to smooth or heavily curled leaves, in shades from light green and dark green to reddish tones.

Within this broad group, three particularly versatile usage types have become established: cut lettuce, leaf lettuce and lamb’s lettuce. Cut lettuces form tender, loosely growing leaves that can be harvested multiple times. Leaf lettuces grow in rosettes or loose clusters and allow continuous leaf picking over an extended period. Lamb’s lettuce, botanically belonging to Valerianella species, forms compact, aromatic rosettes and is known for its strong cold tolerance.

In subtropical climates, lettuces thrive particularly well during the milder seasons, where they benefit from stable conditions. For the hotter months, there are also varieties that cope better with high temperatures and maintain reliable leaf quality. In temperate regions, all of our traditional and historically preserved open‑pollinated varieties perform consistently when sown at the right time. Overall, lettuce shows remarkable ecological adaptability and finds suitable growing conditions across very different climate zones.