Hoary Plantain

Plantago media

Native to:
Albania, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Krym, Kuril Is., Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, Ukraine

📍 View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Plantaginaceae
Genus:
Plantago
Species:
Plantago media
USDA Symbol:
PLME

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
50 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
may,jun,jul,aug
Bloom Colors:
white, pink
Ground Cover:
Yes
Lawn Substitute:
Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Fragrant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
well-drained, calcareous, loamy soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
good drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
prefers open grasslands and meadows

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
Germination Time:
10–21 days
Notes:
Seeds germinate readily with light; cold stratification improves germination rates but is not always required.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI