Plantago major , or Plantain, is an herbaceous, flowering, perennial species of Plantago. It grows in lawns and fields, along roadsides, and in other areas that have been disturbed by humans. Plantain does particularly well in compacted or disturbed soils and can survive repeated trampling. Native Americans called it "white man's footprint" because it appeared and thrived in disturbed areas around European settlements. Its roots work to break up hardpan soil and can help stop erosion. Plaintain is wind-pollinated and each plant can produce 20,000 small oval-shaped orange to black bitter-tasting seeds. This is a common lawn weed that is able to resist mowing because of its low basal leaves. Plantain is not related to the fruit called plantain, which is a type of banana. Plantain is a highly nutritious wild edible, that is high in calcium and vitamins A, C, and K. The young, tender leaves can be eaten raw, and the older, stringier leaves can be boiled in stews and eaten. The seeds are also edible. However, ingesting large quantities can cause a drop in blood pressure. Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Rosette of broadly lance to egg-shaped leaves with an acute apex. Leaves are 2 to 8 inches long and 2 to 4 inches wide. Five to seven prominent, stringy, veins start at the base of the leaf and can be seen in the petiole if a leaf is pulled from the plant. The upper surface of each blade is medium green and glabrous to sparsely canescent. Lower surface is light green and finely pubescent along the veins.
Flower color
Green; White
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Spike
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Flowers appear April to September and are inconspicuous greenish-brown with white to purple stamens. Narrow cylindrical, dense spike of greenish flowers clustered on spikes from the center of plant and seeds form all down the flower stem.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Capsules are split across the middle into 2 equal segments containing 6-20 brown, glossy, ridged seeds. Seeds are edible by wildlife.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Erect, flowering stems less than 12 inches tall, leafless, unbranched, terminate in a cluster of small inconspicuous flowers.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Eurasia, Europe and Central Asia
Distribution
Eastern North America
Wildlife value
Attracts pollinators. Birds eat the seeds, which are high in oil. Seeds are included in birdseed mix.
Attracts
Butterflies
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit; Leaves
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Edibility
The leaves of young plantain are used as a vegetable similar to spinach.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Used to be highly esteemed medicinal herbs. Leaves were used to treat bites, stings, cuts, sore feet, and ailments of the eyes, tongue and mouth.