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Buckhorn Plantain

Plantago lanceolata (plan-TAY-go lan-see-oh-LAY-tuh)

Family: Plantaginaceae Non-native Herbaceous

A common edible weed in the plantain family Plantag. Each flower is replaced by a seed capsule of an ovoid or oblongoid shape. The capsule splits on the lower portion, releasing 2 small seeds. The seeds are dark brown or black and indented on one side. A hermaphrodite (both male and female organs) plant that is pollinated by wind, flies, and beetles.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 43 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

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.

Often confused with Plantago major

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Edible; Herbaceous Perennial; Weed
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Linear; Ovate
Leaf value
Edible
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Stalked, erect. Margins are sparsely toothed, parallel-veined.
Flower color
Brown/Copper; White
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Bisexual, inconspicuous corolla 4-lobed, tubular.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
1-2 smooth, boat-shaped, gel-type substance
Stem detail
6 to 18", slightly furrowed or angular, scattered hairs near the base.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Europe, including Britain
Wildlife value
Attracts wildlife
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow; Naturalized Area; Woodland
Design feature
Mass Planting
Garden tags
#long bloom time #herbaceous #clay soils tolerant #edible weed #perennial weed #perennial #herb garden #weedy #edible
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Weedy
Propagation
Seed

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.