This broad leaf plant is taking over my backyard “lawn”. What is it and how can I stop it from spreading ?
by BigShoezda77
This broad leaf plant is taking over my backyard “lawn”. What is it and how can I stop it from spreading ?
by BigShoezda77
16 Comments
Plantain or “plantago”. Native to Eurasia, nasty spreader.
Pretty easy to pull up but it stays low to the ground so it’s hard to hit with a lawnmower.
I’ve noticed they really only thrive where there’s no native competition, i.e. in turf or in cracks between bricks/pavers. Replacing turf with clover or just ditching turf for literally anything native works like a charm.
It’s a really cool weed that only we call a weed.
It’s actually a really beneficial plant to local animals birds, etc. and it’s complete edible and has medicinal qualities.
There are two different kinds of this plant, the narrow leaf version and the wide leaf version. This looks like the wide leaf version.
Fun side fact about plantago is that it is a 100% great treatment for poison ivy and other itching types of things
The product tecnu bites and stings I believe is this plant.
That’s not to say that I don’t understand that it will kill your grass because it is a broadleaf plant that will block the light to the small grass. They’re really easy to pull out. They don’t have crazy bed roots, but they generally will grow where the soil is poor. There’s a lot of traffic or run like people are driving over it or something, etc..
Other side fact, it is also called Whiteman’s foot because it grew “…where the white man walked”.
https://www.eattheweeds.com/white-mans-little-foot-dwarf-plantain-2/
A wild edible called plantain
I would love to hire someone to come through my yard and identify edibles! We may all benefit knowing what we already have that is plate worthy.
Used to be called white mans footsteps by indigenous people.
Daniel! Some people have all the luck!
Looks like broadleaf plantain (Plantago major). It’s edible. They make psyllium from the seeds of one of its relatives. For this one, you can also eat the leaves and the premature flower heads. To get rid of it, make sure to get a deep weeder tool. It’s going to be hard by hand, they’re really well-rooted.
Lots of people will say it’s *Plantago major*, but the red petiolesakenme think *Plantago rugelii* which is native to the US.
It is also the host plant for buckeye butterflies. And also restorative for your soil
Good plant
Works great on insect stings. Makes a great oil salve.
Plantain is cool. The mucilage of the plant has an ability to quickly clot small cuts. You chew a leaf then apply the chewed up leaf on your cut, will clot the cut immediately. Wrap the chewed up leaf on your cut and off you go. Great if you’re on the go.
Here’s a website with good photos and descriptions of the three most common plantains in the US:
https://cals.cornell.edu/weed-science/weed-profiles/plantains
Blackseed plantain is native to North America.
So incredibly effective at pulling infected splinters! My friend told me to wash a leaf, squash it, pile it into a bit of cloth, and tape it over the deep splinter. She also said to watch how long I left it on, because eventually it starts pulling blood! She wasn’t wrong.
Here’s a practical consideration that no one seems to have mentioned: plantain will survive in dry, compacted, high-traffic regions where grass *cannot*. Something to think about.
Looks delicious!