Largely ignored by the modern gardener, and often regarded as an irksome weed, plantain is an overlooked and misunderstood plant that actually has quite a lot to offer. It differs from the banana-like fruit that is called a plantain (Musa paradisiacae); the two are unrelated. Native to the Eurasian continent, broadleaf plantain now grows in many parts of the world.
The Plantain weed is a staple in the diet of many plant-eaters. It grows prolifically, and is one of the best weeds, (even for humans!), as it is edible, nutrient-dense, and aids digestion.
The Plantain weed goes by several other names, such as white man’s foot, rabbit ears, dooryard plantain, greater plantain, and broadleaf plantain. There are about 200 species in the Plantago genus. There are two types of Plantain that grow commonly in the UK: Ribwort (P. lanceolata) - which has thin, narrow leaves
and Broad leaf (P. major) - which has wider leaves.
