Pisonia alba, popularly called the Lettuce Tree, is a soft-wooded small tree or large shrub from the Nyctaginaceae family. It is grown across warmer parts of India for its strikingly pale, lime-green to creamy-white leaves that brighten shaded corners and act as a colour contrast among darker foliage plants.
The tender, almost translucent leaves are edible and have a long history of use in South Indian Siddha medicine, while the plant itself is valued as a low-maintenance ornamental hedge or specimen. It tolerates pruning extremely well and is easily multiplied from cuttings, making it a favourite for quick green cover.
It thrives in the tropical heat and humidity of coastal and plains India, needing little more than sun, regular moisture and well-drained soil to push out flush after flush of soft new growth.
Specifications
| Family |
Nyctaginaceae |
| Native region |
Indo-Pacific tropics; widely cultivated across India |
| Mature height |
3-8 m as a tree; often kept 1-2 m as a clipped shrub |
| Mature spread |
2-4 m |
| Growth rate |
Fast |
| Foliage |
Soft, ovate, pale yellow-green to creamy-white leaves |
| Flower colour |
Greenish-white (rarely flowers in cultivation) |
| Flower season |
Rarely flowers in Indian gardens |
| Climate zone |
Tropical and warm sub-tropical |
Care guide
| Sunlight |
Full sun to partial shade; leaf colour is palest and brightest in good light. |
| Watering |
Regular watering to keep soil evenly moist, especially in summer; avoid waterlogging. |
| Soil / mix |
Fertile, well-drained loamy soil enriched with organic matter. |
| Temperature |
Best at 20-35 C; thrives in tropical heat and is sensitive to frost. |
| Humidity |
Moderate to high humidity preferred. |
| Fertilizer |
Feed monthly in the growing season with balanced fertiliser or compost/vermicompost. |
| Pruning |
Tolerates hard pruning very well; trim regularly to maintain a bushy hedge or shape. |
| Repotting |
If container-grown, repot every 1-2 years into a larger pot with fresh mix. |
| Propagation |
Easily propagated from semi-hardwood stem cuttings, which root readily. |
| Pests & problems |
Watch for mealybugs, scale insects and aphids on soft new growth. |
| Toxicity / safety |
Non-toxic; the leaves are edible and traditionally cooked and used in Siddha medicine. |
| Difficulty |
Easy |
Uses
Pisonia alba is grown for both ornamental and practical purposes in India:
- As a bright foliage shrub, hedge or screen to light up shaded garden spaces.
- As a soft-wooded specimen plant in tropical and coastal gardens.
- The tender leaves are edible and used as a leafy vegetable in some South Indian kitchens.
- Long used in Siddha and folk medicine, traditionally applied for wounds, swelling and joint complaints.
Growing tips
Plant or transplant at the onset of the monsoon (June-July) so cuttings and saplings establish in warm, moist conditions.
During the dry, hot months (March-May) water frequently and mulch the base to retain moisture and keep the leaves looking fresh.
Pinch and prune through the growing season to encourage dense, bushy growth and a steady flush of pale new leaves. In cooler North Indian winters, protect young plants from frost.
