Plantago media
hoary plantain
Overview
Plantago media is a low rosette-forming perennial in the plantain family, with leaf rosettes pressed close to the ground and flower stalks rising 8-16 inches (20-40 cm) tall. The broad oval to elliptic leaves are 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) long, grey-green, and softly hairy on both sides, tapering into a short broad stalk. Unlike the wind-pollinated common plantains, it raises slender cylindrical flower spikes 1-3 inches (2.5-8 cm) long packed with small flowers whose showy pink to lilac stamens and light scent attract bees and other insects. Flowering runs from late spring into summer. The plant grows in meadows, lawns, and especially short calcareous grassland on chalk and limestone, where it forms a flat rosette that tolerates mowing and grazing. It tolerates drought and poor soil but is crowded out by taller, more vigorous plants on rich ground. Tiny capsules release several seeds as the spikes ripen and brown.
Native Range
Plantago media is native to Europe and temperate Asia, from Britain and Scandinavia east into Siberia and central Asia, growing in meadows, pastures, road verges, and calcareous grassland.Suggested Uses
Grown in wildflower meadows, chalk and limestone grassland plantings, and low-mown conservation lawns, where the scented spikes draw bees. It tolerates mowing and grazing and fills short turf alongside other meadow plants. It also appears as a self-sown component of old pastures and verges.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 1'4"
Width/Spread6" - 10"
Bloom Information
Flowering runs from late spring into summer, generally May to July. The cylindrical spikes open their pale flowers from the base upward, and the protruding pink to lilac stamens carry a light scent that draws bees, unlike most plantains, which rely on wind. Spikes brown and shed seed through late summer.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
pink to lilac stamensFoliage Description
grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 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