Lapsana communis aka Nipplewort

Lapsana communis, or nipplewort, is an annual in the daisy family, Asteraceae. Its native range spans Macaronesia, Europe, Siberia and Iran. It is native to Britain and Ireland. The species grows in temperate regions. Other names include ballogan, holgan weed and poor man's friend. It occurs on waste ground, beside roads and on walls. These habitats include both sunny and partly shaded sites.

Plants reach about 3 feet (0.9 metres) tall. Their spread is about 1 foot (0.3 metres). Each plant completes its life cycle within one year. Flowers appear from June to September. Seeds ripen from August to October, overlapping with the flowering season. Each flower has both male and female organs. Bees, flies, moths and butterflies pollinate the flowers. The plant is also self-fertile, so it can set seed without another plant.

Nipplewort grows in sun or light shade, but dislikes deep shade. It accepts sandy soil, loam and clay. Neutral to mildly alkaline soil suits it best. Strongly acid ground does not suit it. It prefers moist soil and tolerates strong winds. Coastal exposure is less suitable. Plants For A Future lists USDA hardiness zones 4–8. It also describes the plant as frost-hardy. Its broad soil tolerance makes it easy to accommodate where conditions suit it.

This species can maintain itself through seed in garden beds. Disturbed soil gives new seedlings a place to grow. Its tendency to return makes it a garden weed. Sow seed where plants will grow, either in spring or once ripe. Cover the seed with only a thin layer of soil. Plants in suitable sites often sow themselves without help. This habit matters when choosing a place for it in cultivated beds. The evidence supports a food use rather than a named ornamental role.

People once grew nipplewort as a vegetable. Young leaves and shoots can be eaten raw or cooked. Gather them before flowering for the best harvest. Their taste can be bitter or resemble radish. Use the leaves in salads, soups or casseroles. They can also be cooked as a leafy green. Plants For A Future reports no known hazards. It lists no known medicinal uses or other uses beyond food. That hazard record does not establish safety for pets.