Dotseed Plantain
Plantago erecta
- Native to:
- Mexico, United States
Madeleine Claire (www.inaturalist.org)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Plantaginaceae
- Genus:
- Plantago
- Species:
- Plantago erecta
- USDA Symbol:
- PLER3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 30 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
Wildlife Benefits
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), ⚠️Edith's checkerspot (Euphydryas editha), Variable checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Butterflies:Gray Buckeye (Junonia grisea)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- butterflies
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Native annual of California grasslands adapted to periodic fire; reseeds readily post-fire.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Commonly found in coastal and inland scrub habitats.
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily with fall or winter rains; annual lifecycle completes by late spring.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI