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Southern Plantain Plantago virginica

Previously known as:

  • Plantago virginica var. viridescens
Phonetic Spelling
plan-TA-go vir-JIN-ih-kuh
Description

Paleseed Plantain is a native annual or biennial weed with very wooly foliage and a taproot.  It can be found in sandy prairies and fields,  rocky cliffs or slopes, gravelly areas along railroads and roadsides, and disturbed areas. This species is usually found in disturbed areas with scant vegetation. It is not as prolific a self-seeder as some of the other plantains and so will not become a problem in lawns and landscapes unless the soil is especially sandy or gravelly.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#NC native#self-seeding#disturbed areas#hairy leaves#hairy stems#native weed#weed
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#NC native#self-seeding#disturbed areas#hairy leaves#hairy stems#native weed#weed
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Plantago
    Species:
    virginica
    Family:
    Plantaginaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Biennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    North America
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 3 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Native Plant
    Weed
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Spike
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    4-8" tall and unbranched with tiny 1/8" white flowers from mid-spring to early summer. Flowers are wind pollinated.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Soft
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Rosulate
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblanceolate
    Obovate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Medium green leaves 3-5 veins can grow up to 6" long and 3" wide but are typically half this size various sizes oblanceolate, obovate, and oval. Petioles are reddish and winged. Covered with short white hairs.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Problems:
    Weedy