Overview

Plantago media is a clump forming herbaceous perennial in the genus Plantago, part of the Plantaginaceae family, with deciduous, semi evergreen foliage. It typically grows around 0.1-0.5 metres tall and 0.1-0.5 metres wide, reaching full size in around 1 year. Plantago media grows best in full sun and partial shade, and tolerates most soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H7. Suggested uses include cottage and informal garden, wildflower meadow and wildlife gardens. It is native to Belgium, Brussels-Capital Region, Flemish Region, Walloon Region and Flanders.

About

Plantago media, known as the hoary plantain, is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae. It is native to central and western Europe, including Great Britain and introduced to parts of the north-east United States. Its generic name is derived from the Latin for sole; like other members of the genus Plantago, it should not be confused with the unrelated plantain, a starchy banana. Mature plants reach roughly 0.1-0.5 metres tall and 0.1-0.5 metres wide, carrying deciduous, semi evergreen foliage. In the garden it prefers full sun and partial shade and most soil types. It tolerates soil of any pH, moist but well-drained conditions and east-facing, south-facing and west-facing aspects.

Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Plantago media

About the genus

Plantago is a genus of about 200 species of flowering plants in the family Plantaginaceae, commonly called plantains or fleaworts. The common name plantain is shared with the unrelated cooking plantain. Most are herbaceous plants, though a few are subshrubs growing to 60 centimetres tall.

Wikipedia contributors, "Plantago", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Plantago

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Plantago

Sunlight

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil type

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained

Aspect

East-facing, South-facing, West-facing

Exposure

Exposed, Sheltered

UK hardiness

H7

Plant details

Plantago media size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

Herbaceous Perennial

Habit

Clump forming

Foliage

Deciduous, Semi evergreen

Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Time to full height

1 year

Suggested uses

Cottage and informal garden, Wildflower meadow, Wildlife gardens

Native to

Belgium, Brussels-Capital Region, Flemish Region, Walloon Region, Flanders

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Plantago media

Propagation

Seed

Pest resistance

Generally pest-free

Disease resistance

Generally disease-free

Frequently asked questions