American Plantain
Plantago rugelii
Also listed as Plantago kamtschatika
Also known as Rugel's Plantain, Black-seeded Plantain, Blackseed Plantain
Climate Match for your location
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American plantain is a common low-growing perennial weed with distinctive oval leaves arranged in a basal rosette and small greenish flower spikes. It is drought-tolerant and adaptable to most soils, thriving in disturbed areas, lawns, and meadows.
Why grow it
American plantain establishes readily in poor soils and compacted ground where many ornamental perennials struggle, making it useful for erosion control and soil stabilization. Its leaves are edible when young and tender, offering a foraged green similar to other Plantago species but with less bitterness than common plantain (Plantago major). The plant requires minimal water and fertility once established, suiting low-input landscape designs.
Watch out for
In managed gardens, American plantain self-seeds prolifically and spreads via rhizomes, so containment may be necessary if you wish to prevent it from occupying space intended for other plants. Regular deadheading before flower spikes mature will reduce volunteer seedlings in subsequent seasons.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Plantaginaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
American plantain is a common low-growing perennial weed with distinctive oval leaves arranged in a basal rosette and small greenish flower spikes. It is drought-tolerant and adaptable to most soils, thriving in disturbed areas, lawns, and meadows.
Climate Match for your location
See how well American Plantain grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
American plantain establishes readily in poor soils and compacted ground where many ornamental perennials struggle, making it useful for erosion control and soil stabilization. Its leaves are edible when young and tender, offering a foraged green similar to other Plantago species but with less bitterness than common plantain (Plantago major). The plant requires minimal water and fertility once established, suiting low-input landscape designs.
Watch out for
In managed gardens, American plantain self-seeds prolifically and spreads via rhizomes, so containment may be necessary if you wish to prevent it from occupying space intended for other plants. Regular deadheading before flower spikes mature will reduce volunteer seedlings in subsequent seasons.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Plantaginaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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