Plantago major

RHS Plant Profile
common plantain

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common plantain RHS
common plantain RHS

Other common names

cart track plant, greater plantain, healing blade, lamb's foot, lark seed, white man's foot, white man's footprint, llwynhidydd mawr

Herbaceous Perennial

A low-growing herbaceous perennial with a rosette of broad, oval, dark green leaves, with pale green veins and stems. Produces leafless spikes of small, tightly clustered brownish purple flowers on upright stems up to 20cm high

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1 year
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Plantaginaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
Yes
Foliage
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

Most vigorous in open, sunny sites, but will tolerate a range of positions and soil types, including heavy and compacted soils. Spreads rapidly, generally considered a weed.

Propagation

Self- and wind pollinated, propagates by seed produced prolifically through the growing season.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Wildlife gardens

Pruning

Remove before seeding to prevent spreading

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids and red spider mites

Diseases

May be susceptible to downy mildews and powdery mildews