Plantago lanceolata, English plantain
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Herbaceous

Plantago lanceolata

English plantain

PlantaginaceaeEurope, western Asia

At a Glance

TypePerennial
HabitClumping
FoliageDeciduous
Height6-24 inches (15-60 cm)
Width6-12 inches (15-30 cm)

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

3 - 9
Zone 3
Zone 4
Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 7
Zone 8
Zone 9
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Drought Tolerant
Maintenancemoderate

Overview

Plantago lanceolata is a fibrous-rooted perennial in the plantain family (Plantaginaceae) reaching 6–24 inches (15–60 cm) tall with a 6–12 inch (15–30 cm) spread, forming compact basal rosettes. Leaves are all basal, narrowly lanceolate to elliptic, 2–12 inches (5–30 cm) long and 0.4–1 inch (10–25 mm) wide, with 3–5 prominent parallel veins running the length of the blade and a long, channeled petiole. Leaves are sparsely to moderately hairy. Flower scapes are leafless, wiry, deeply grooved (5-angled in cross-section), 6–24 inches (15–60 cm) tall. Flower spikes are dense, cylindrical to ovoid, 0.4–1.2 inches (10–30 mm) long, with a conspicuous ring of white to yellowish stamens that moves upward as the spike matures — a distinctive visual feature. Each flower produces a capsule containing 2 seeds. Seeds have a mucilaginous coating that becomes sticky when wet, adhering to shoes, tires, and animal fur. A single plant produces 1,000–15,000 seeds. The fibrous root system is dense but shallower than the taproot of P. major. One of the most common lawn and pasture weeds in the Pacific Northwest. A significant cause of allergenic pollen.

Native Range

Native to Europe and western Asia, occurring in lawns, pastures, roadsides, and disturbed ground from sea level to approximately 8,000 feet (2,400 m). Naturalized across all 50 U.S. states and all Canadian provinces. One of the most common lawn weeds in the Pacific Northwest.

Suggested Uses

Used in Plantaginaceae identification courses for teaching parallel leaf venation and the all-basal leaf arrangement. The ascending stamen ring on the flower spike is a pollination biology teaching feature. Included in lawn weed identification alongside P. major. Studied in aerobiology as a major allergenic pollen source. Historically used in European folk medicine for wound healing (leaves contain aucubin and allantoin).

How to Identify

Distinguished from Plantago major (common plantain) by the narrow, lance-shaped leaves (versus broad, ovate leaves), the deeply grooved scapes (versus smooth, round scapes), and the compact, cylindrical flower spike (versus elongated, slender spike). Both species have prominent parallel leaf veins and all-basal leaves, which are the family-level diagnostics. The ascending ring of white stamens on the compact spike is immediately recognizable.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 2'
Width/Spread6" - 1'

Colors

Flower Colors

white

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~14 weeks
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
SpringSummerFall
Flowers from April through September. Compact spikes bloom from the base upward, with a visible ring of white stamens that ascends the spike over 7–10 days. Wind-pollinated; significant source of allergenic pollen. Seeds mature progressively as the stamen ring moves upward. In the Pacific Northwest, scapes are produced continuously from spring through fall.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Brownish with white stamens

Foliage Description

Dark green, narrowly lanceolate to elliptic, with 3-5 prominent parallel veins and a long, channeled petiole

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun
Partial Shade
Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 8.0(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
loamsandsiltclay
Drainage
well drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Hand-pulling or digging the root crown is effective; the fibrous root system extracts from moist soil with moderate effort. In lawns, the narrow leaves escape mowing blades more readily than the broad leaves of P. major, making mowing alone insufficient. Maintaining dense turf at 3+ inches (8+ cm) mowing height and adequate fertility reduces establishment. Spot-digging with a dandelion fork removes individual rosettes. In pastures, the species is considered a minor weed of low nutritional value. The allergenic pollen is a concern for hay fever sufferers from May through August.

Pruning

No pruning applicable. Rosettes are dug or pulled. Cutting scapes before seed maturity prevents seed set but does not eliminate the perennial rosette. In lawns, consistent digging over 2–3 years reduces populations.

Maintenance Level

moderate

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic