Plantain
Seed # 178
Basic Information
- Seed Number
- 178
- Seed Name
- Plantain
- Variety
- Common
- Category
- Medicinal
- Plant Family
- Plantaginaceae
- Plant Type
- Common/broadleaf plantain (Plantago major)
- Planting Method
- Direct Sow
- Seed Status
- In Seed Bank
- Created
- 2026-08-14 00:50:34
- Updated
- 2026-08-19 15:35:29
Planting Information
- Start Planting Date
- Mar 1
- Last Recommended Planting Date
- Jun 1
- Plantable Months
- March, April, May, June
- Indoor Start
- Not recorded
- Direct Sow
- Mar 1 – Jun 1
- Transplant
- Not recorded
- Indoor Start Weeks Before Frost
- Not recorded
- Transplant Weeks After Frost
- Not recorded
- Germination Days
- 14–28 days
- Harvest/Maturity
- Not recorded
- Succession Planting
- Not recorded
Growing Conditions
- Ideal Soil Temperature
- Not recorded
- Planting Depth
- Surface sow or cover very lightly
- Plant Spacing
- 6-12 in
- Row Spacing
- 12-18 in
- Thin-To Spacing
- 6-12 in
- Sun Requirements
- Full sun to partial shade
- Water Needs
- Adaptable; grows particularly well in moist soils
- Soil Preference
- Highly adaptable; tolerates compacted, disturbed, moist and well-drained soils
- Minimum Container Size
- 1-2 gal
- Plant Height
- 6-12 in
- Perennial/Biennial Status
- Perennial
- Container Friendly
- Yes
- Trellis/Support Needed
- No
- Frost Tolerant
- Yes
- Heat Tolerant
- Yes
- Drought Tolerant
- No
- Pollinator Friendly
- No
- Medicinal
- Yes
Garden Uses
Container Culinary Medicinal Seed Saving TeaCompanion Planting
No companion relationships recorded.
Storage
- Seed Source/Brand
- NC State Extension; Rare Seeds
- Packet Year
- Not recorded
- Quantity Notes
- Not recorded
- Purchase Date
- Not recorded
- Expiration Year
- Not recorded
- Storage Box
- Not recorded
- Container
- Not recorded
- Envelope
- Not recorded
- Row
- Not recorded
- Slot
- Not recorded
- Storage Notes
- Not recorded
Notes
Original Planting Method: Surface sow or cover very lightly; direct sow or start in cells
Outdoor / Direct Sow / Transplant Window: Mar 15 – Sep 1; dormant fall sowing also works
Germination Time: About 14–28 days
Days to Harvest / Bloom: Harvest young leaves once established; no fixed vegetable-style maturity date
Container Friendly: Yes; useful for controlling spread
Pollinator Friendly: Low; primarily wind-pollinated
Medicinal / Herbal Use: Edible young leaves and traditional herbal use; not medical guidance
Succession / Reusable Notes: No succession needed; established crowns return and plants may self-seed.
Zone 6B Notes: Very hardy in Zone 6B. Controlling spread is usually a bigger issue than winter survival.
Companion Plants: Best in a dedicated herb/wildlife area; compatible with other hardy perennial herbs
Avoid Planting Near / Watch Outs: Self-seeds readily and can become weedy. Seed needs light, so do not bury deeply.
Sources: NC State Extension: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/plantago-major/ | Rare Seeds: https://www.rareseeds.com/blog/post/how-to-grow-plantain
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Zone 6B: Common plantain is fully hardy in Zone 6B and can persist for many years. It spreads readily from seed and can become weedy, so container growing or removal of seed spikes before maturity may be useful.
Germination: Seed is very small and should be surface sown or only lightly covered. Exact germination timing is left null because reliable extension sources do not provide one consistent range.
Harvest: Young tender leaves are edible raw or cooked; older leaves become fibrous and are better cooked. Leaves have a long history of traditional herbal use.
Seed Saving: Allow flower spikes to mature until seeds become brown and dry. A single plant can produce many thousands of seeds.
Special Care: Common plantain is Plantago major, not the banana-like fruit commonly called plantain. It tolerates mowing, trampling and compacted soils exceptionally well.
Research Source: University of Minnesota Extension — https://extension.umn.edu/weeds/plantain — Plantago major identity, 6-12 inch height, perennial habit, moist-soil adaptation, edible use, medicinal use and prolific seed production
Research Source: NC State Extension Plant Toolbox — https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/plantago-major/ — Zones including 6B, perennial lifecycle, full sun to partial shade, soil adaptability, edible leaves and traditional medicinal uses
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