Buck's-horn Plantain
Plantago coronopus
Also listed as Asterogeum laciniatum, Coronopus vulgaris
Also known as Buckhorn Plantain, Cut-leaved Plantain
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A low-growing perennial with distinctive deeply lobed, finely divided foliage resembling deer horns. Produces small spiky flower heads on thin stems above the rosette.
Why grow it
Buck's-horn plantain offers a more delicate foliage texture than common plantain (Plantago major), making it better suited to ornamental polycultures and garden edges where finer visual detail is valued. It establishes readily in poor, well-drained soils where broader-leaved plantains may struggle, and its compact rosette habit means it occupies minimal horizontal space while still functioning as a useful medicinal and edible herb.
Watch out for
This species prefers drier conditions than many plantains and may decline in consistently wet soils or poorly drained clay. In favorable conditions, it self-seeds readily, so deadheading spent flowers helps prevent unwanted spread if containment is a priority.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Plantaginaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean and coastal Europe
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A low-growing perennial with distinctive deeply lobed, finely divided foliage resembling deer horns. Produces small spiky flower heads on thin stems above the rosette.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Buck's-horn Plantain grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Buck's-horn plantain offers a more delicate foliage texture than common plantain (Plantago major), making it better suited to ornamental polycultures and garden edges where finer visual detail is valued. It establishes readily in poor, well-drained soils where broader-leaved plantains may struggle, and its compact rosette habit means it occupies minimal horizontal space while still functioning as a useful medicinal and edible herb.
Watch out for
This species prefers drier conditions than many plantains and may decline in consistently wet soils or poorly drained clay. In favorable conditions, it self-seeds readily, so deadheading spent flowers helps prevent unwanted spread if containment is a priority.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Plantaginaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean and coastal Europe
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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