Plantago coronopus aka Buck's Horn Plantain

Taxonomy

Plantago coronopus, also known as buck's-horn plantain, minutina, or erba stella, is a herbaceous perennial or annual plant in the family Plantaginaceae. It forms a low-growing basal rosette of narrow, deeply lobed green leaves. From spring to autumn, it produces slender, curving to upright flower spikes with cylindrical heads of small, tightly clustered cream flowers. This plant is hardy up to zone 6 in the UK and can grow up to 0.3 meters in height. It blooms from May to July, attracting wildlife with its hermaphrodite flowers that are pollinated by wind. It is both self-fertile and not frost tender.

Common names

Buck's Horn Plantain, Star Of The Earth, Buckhorn Plantain

How to care for Buck's Horn Plantain

Difficulty

Even if you don't have a green thumb, you can successfully care for Buck's Horn Plantain due to its easy-going nature.

Water

Buck's Horn Plantain should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Soil

Buck's Horn Plantain loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.

Lighting

Buck's Horn Plantain thrives in bright and direct sunlight. To ensure your plant receives enough light to survive, place it less than one foot from a window. The current weather in your area may affect the placement in your home. For example, if you live in a region that has longer and more intense periods of sunlight, then you may want to place the plant farther away from the window to avoid direct sunlight and reduce the risk of sunburn. Alternatively, if you live in a region with relatively milder temperatures and less intense sunlight, then you may be able to place the plant closer to the window for increased exposure. Ultimately, the current weather in your area should be taken into consideration when determining the best placement for your Buckhorn Plantain.

Toxicity

No verified data on the toxicity of this plant exists within Ploi's records. Should you, someone in your family, or your pet ingest plant material with an unknown toxicity level, it is recommended to seek medical advice.

Fertilizer

Once the Buck's Horn Plantain has doubled in size or after a year has passed, it should be moved to a new pot. By replacing the soil with fresh potting soil containing all the vital nutrients, your plant will receive all the sustenance it needs, negating the requirement for fertilizer. It's important to remember that plants get their energy from the sun, not fertilizer.

Region of origin

Buck's Horn Plantain’s native range is Coasts of west and south Europe, including Britain, south and east from Sweden to N. Africa, W. Asia.


More info:
Wikipedia