Spinach vs. Lettuce

Are you a fan of leafy greens? If so, you’re probably familiar with good ol’ spinach and lettuce. What you might not know is that lettuce is actually a genus of plants that contains over 50 species!

Let’s compare the species of spinach vs. lettuce (the genus), and discuss their plant classification, physical characteristics, native ranges and ideal growing conditions, and culinary uses.

Spinach vs. Lettuce: A Quick Look:

Plant Classification

While spinach is its own species, Spinacia oleracea, lettuce, Lactuca, is a genus of plants with over 50 species. In comparison, Spinacia only contains three species.

Regarding their botanical families, spinach belongs to the Amaranthaceae family while the Lactuca genus belongs to the daisy, or Asteraceae, family.

Spinach vs. Lettuce: Physical Characteristics

When comparing spinach to cultivated lettuce varieties, you’ll notice some similarities in physical characteristics. First of all, both grow as leafy vegetables with their edible leaves branching out basally from the roots. Second, spinach and several common varieties of cultivated lettuce typically grow between 6-12 inches tall.

However, when comparing spinach to lettuce, note that lettuce species have a wide range of leaf shapes. So, while spinach leaves tend to be oval or spade-shaped, the shape of lettuce leaves can vary widely by variety. Some varieties are wavy, scalloped, notched, spade-shaped, while others more resemble spinach leaves.

Additionally, several varieties of lettuce form dense or loose heads of leaves, whereas spinach leaves do not form a head. Also, spinach leaves have long, thin stems, whereas lettuce leaves tend to have shorter, thicker, less flexible stems.

Spinach flowers are less than an inch long and come in shade of yellow and green. In comparison, lettuce flowers tend to resemble small daisies and are usually white, yellow, or purple.

Native Ranges and Growing Conditions

Spinach is native to Southwest Asia, while the lettuce genus is mostly native to temperate areas of Eurasia.

In terms of cultivation, spinach and lettuce plants have similar growing preferences. Both spinach and the various species of lettuce can grow in full sun to partial shade, and prefer to grow in well-draining, moist, fertile soil that is slightly acidic. Spinach is a highly adaptable, cold-hardy plant that can thrive in USDA hardiness Zones 2a-11b. Lettuce plants are also typically cold-hardy, with several varieties requiring cold exposure for seed germination.

Spinach vs. Lettuce: Culinary Uses

Of course, when comparing the culinary uses of spinach vs. lettuce, it’s important to compare the cultivated, edible varieties of lettuce to spinach.

As leafy vegetables, spinach and lettuce are cultivated for culinary use around the world.

Spinach is a leafy green that boasts a variety of uses from salads, dips, baked meals, and steamed dishes. Common favorites in the US include spinach in salads and on sandwhiches, spinach and artichoke dip, baked spinach on pizza, and steamed spinach as a dinner side dish.

In comparison, lettuce tends to be prepared in fewer ways, but is an integral component for salads and in sandwiches. Some varieties are crispy and pack a nice crunch (crisphead lettuce) while others have more tender leaves and mild flavor (butterhead lettuce).

Up Next:

• Green Leaf Lettuce vs. Romaine
• Kale vs. Lettuce: What Are Their Differences?
• Cabbage vs Lettuce: 5 Key Differences

Sources:

• plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/spinacia-oleracea/
• a-z-animals.com/blog/can-dogs-eat-spinach-safely/
• inaturalist.ca/taxa/53106-Lactuca

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/tashka2000