Plantago lanceolata
ribwort plantain
A low-growing herbaceous perennial with a long tap root and rosettes of ribbed green leaves, which are flatter and more rounded in short turf, but longer and more upright in meadows and grasslands. Produces leafless spikes to 8cm high of small, tightly clustered brown flowers with creamy white anthers, throughout the summer.
Other common names
black Jackbuckhorn
see morecat's cradle
chimney-sweeps
cock grass
cocks
dog's ribs
English plantain
headsman
hen plant
jack straws
kemps seed
klops
knock-heads
lamb's tail
leechwort
narrow-leaved plantain
ram's tongue
rat tail
ribgrass
ribwort
ripple grass
windles
Synonyms
Plantago azoricaPlantago lanceolata var. azorica
see morePlantago timbali
Plantago lanceolata var. timbali
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
1 yearUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Neutral, AlkalineColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Brown Cream | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H7Botanical details
- Family
- Plantaginaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Semi evergreen
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Genus
A genus of 200 species of flowering plants, mainly herbaceous but with a small number of subshrubs, and often classed as a weed. Broad or narrow foliage with long stalks of inconspicuous flowers that are wind-pollinated
- Name status
Correct
How to grow
Cultivation
Prefers well-drained soil and open, sunny positions but grows well in all but the most acidic soil. Sometimes considered a weed in gardens, although the seeds can provide winter food for songbirds so it is sometimes used in wildflower planting
Propagation
Propagates by seed, wind pollinated
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Wildlife gardens
Pruning
Remove before flowering to prevent spread
Pests
May be susceptible to leaf beetles, weevils and caterpillars
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
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