How many types of lettuce?

Marie Iannotti

July 31, 2022

For practical purposes, lettuce is divided into four distinct groups:

1. Crisphead forms a firm head with a crisp texture and distinct veins. Iceberg is the most commonly grown commercial variety.

2. Butterhead also forms a head, but the texture is more soft and pliable with less distinct veins compared to crisphead.

3. Looseleaf forms a kind of bunch instead of a head. Looseleaf lettuce can regrow from a cut stem without losing quality in flavor or texture.

4. Cos or Romaine is an upright plant with long, narrow leaves that look coarse but are quite tender.

Lettuce vs. Cabbage: Both lettuce and cabbage varieties grow in heads with layers of leaves. However, cabbage tends to be tougher than lettuce because it has lower water content. Cabbage typically has a stronger flavor while lettuce is very mild.