Plantago maritima
sea plantain
Circumboreal coasts of Europe, Asia, and North America
Overview
Plantago maritima is a tufted, semi-evergreen perennial forming a basal rosette of fleshy, linear leaves 5-20 cm (2-8 in) long and 2-5 mm (0.08-0.2 in) wide. The leaves are slightly channelled, often faintly toothed, and grey-green, growing from a woody, branching rootstock. From early summer it sends up leafless stalks 5-30 cm (2-12 in) tall, each ending in a slender cylindrical spike of tiny greenish-brown flowers with protruding yellow stamens. The flowers are wind-pollinated and followed by small two-seeded capsules. It grows on salt marshes, sea cliffs, rocky shores, and other saline or mineral-rich coastal ground, and also inland on saline and mountain soils. The species tolerates salt spray, periodic tidal flooding, and exposed, low-nutrient sites that exclude most plants, but it is slow-growing and stays low with limited floral display. Its compact rosette and narrow leaves give a low, grassy texture.
Native Range
Plantago maritima has a circumboreal distribution along the coasts of Europe, northern Asia, and North America, with inland populations on saline and mountain soils. In North America it occurs along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and around interior salt flats. It ranges from sea level to alpine zones.Suggested Uses
Plantago maritima is grown in coastal and gravel gardens, green roofs, and saline or rock-garden plantings where salt and exposure limit other species. The fleshy young leaves are edible and have a history of use as a coastal vegetable. It suits low, wind-swept sites and crevice planting.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2" - 1'
Width/Spread6" - 10"
Bloom Information
Wind-pollinated flowers open from June to August on narrow terminal spikes, each tiny flower showing pale yellow stamens. The greenish-brown spikes ripen to small capsules through late summer. Flowering is sparse on exposed, dry sites and fuller where soil moisture is steady.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
greenish-brown with yellow stamensFoliage Description
grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow in full sun on moist but free-draining, mineral or sandy soil; it withstands salt, coastal exposure, and brief waterlogging. It tolerates poor, saline ground that few plants accept and needs no feeding. The plant is hardy to hard frost across cool temperate and subarctic zones. Heavy shade and rich, soft soils weaken it and shorten its life. Established rosettes need little care beyond removing old leaves. It can be raised from seed sown in autumn or spring.Pruning
Old or tattered outer leaves can be removed in spring to tidy the rosette. Spent flower stalks are cut off after seeding where self-sowing is unwanted. No other pruning is needed.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons