Plantago coronopus aka Buck's Horn Plantain

Plantago coronopus is known as buck's horn or cut-leaved plantain. It belongs to the plantain family, Plantaginaceae. Its native range spans Europe, North Africa, and southwest Asia. It is native to Britain and Ireland too. Wild plants grow near the sea in sunny, dry places. They root in sand, gravel, and gaps between rocks. Salt tolerance also helps them grow beside salt-treated roads.

This low plant forms clumps with a basal leaf rosette. The narrow green leaves have deep lobes along their edges. Its foliage is semi-evergreen, so some leaves persist through winter. It grows as a perennial, but sometimes lives as an annual. Garden plants reach about 0.3–1.6 feet [0.1–0.5 metres] tall. Their spread falls within the same range. Plants reach their full size in one to two years.

Slender flower spikes rise above the rosette from spring through autumn. Some stand upright, while others curve as they grow. Each carries a cylindrical head packed with small cream flowers. The leaves give the plant its cut-leaved common name. Its low form suits cultivated beds and wildlife gardens. PFAF also lists it as a plant that attracts wildlife.

Choose an open site with full sun and good drainage. RHS lists chalk, loam, and sand as suitable soils. It accepts acid, neutral, and alkaline conditions. Soil moisture can range from dry to moist. Both sheltered and exposed sites can suit this salt-tolerant plant. RHS rates its hardiness H7, its coldest hardiness class. PFAF gives a USDA range of zones 5–9. Grow new plants from seed; they need no pruning. RHS reports few problems with pests or disease.

Young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. They have a mild bitter taste and a fairly tender texture. Brief blanching can soften them before adding them to salads. They feature in misticanze, an Italian mix of salad leaves. PFAF gives the plant an edibility score of three out of five. It reports no known hazards, but this is not a safety guarantee. The same source records traditional leaf uses for fever and sore eyes. These records describe past uses, not proof that treatments work.