Pale Indian Plantain Arnoglossum atriplicifolium
Previously known as:
- Cacalia atriplicifolia
- Cacalia rotundifolia
- Mesadenia atriplicifolia
- Phonetic Spelling
- arn-oh-GLOS-sum at-ry-pliss-ih-FOH-lee-um
- Description
-
Pale Indian Plantain is a native wildflower with striking foliage. Its natural habitat includes mesic forests, woodland edges, savannas, thickets sand dunes, stream banks, clearings, prairies, and meadows.
Growing from seed will produce rosettes of the showy blue-green foliage the first year, however, young plant do not flower. The leaves have the appearance of being made of plastic. The upper surface of the leaves are medium to dark green, the underside are a lighter green to white. From the basal leaves, a central stalk with alternating leaves develops, growing to up to 9' in height. This stem ends in the form of a flat-topped panicle of flower heads. These flower heads are typically arranged in small clusters of 4 to 15 flower heads with tiny white flowers.
Its flowers form in clusters that are open and branched, with heads going in all directions. Its sturdy stems can withstand the weight of its large clusters of flowers, without bending over.
Fertile seed can be set by cross-pollination by insects including wasps, small bees and flies.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Its self-seeding attributes make this undesirable for smaller gardens, where it can tend to take over the landscape.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Arnoglossum
- Species:
- atriplicifolium
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Wildflower
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern U.S.A
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, VA, WI, WV
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Wasps, butterflies, birds, small bees, moths and flies are attracted to the flowers.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Easy to Grow
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Purple/Lavender
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The tiny, ribbed, smooth, egg-shaped fruits display from June to November.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Cyme
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flat-top clusters of small flower heads sits at the top of the central stalk, each containing 4 to 15 white to yellowish green flowers. The flowers have five lobes, are stiff, and slender. Blooming occurs from June to October.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Waxy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Deltoid
- Orbicular
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The upper sides of the leaves are medium to dark green, while the undersides of the leaves and stems have a waxy, white coating. The leaves are irregular, fan-shaped, and coarsely lobed or toothed. The basal leaves are up to 8" long and 6" wide. Springtime will bring an unbranched stalk with alternate leaves of up to 8" long and 8" wide and reaching a height of up to 9' tall. The leaves become smaller as they go up the stem.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The smooth central stalk is pale green to pale purple. Fine veins can be seen along the stem. They remain unbranched below the flower clusters.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heat
